Therapy canines aid young scholars in honing their reading abilities at Nassau County school

Valley Stream, NY

Many youthful scholars can find it scary to read out loud, yet a school in Long Island may possess a procedure that can assist these pupils in managing their nervousness and trepidation of verbal presentation.

The Hewlett-Woodmere Public School District is tapping into therapy dogs during reading programs to assist students in developing confidence and proficiency.

On Thursday, Ogden Elementary School in Valley Stream had an attentive audience in the form of a 6-year-old yellow lab, Odell.

When you are apprehensive about breaking down an unfamiliar word and having to read it aloud to your classmates, it can be challenging; yet, while studying to a canine, there is no critique, remarked the district’s reading specialist Lisa Forgione.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the school had thought up the concept of reaching out to Therapy Dogs International.

Ogden Elementary School Principal Dr. Dina Anzalone declared that apart from reading, writing, and math, our responsibility is to take a global approach to education and diligently find what works best for each and every student.

Currently, this program is the only one of its kind in the district, but it has caused interest to spread to other districts as people hear about it.

The program, just like the dogs, is not judgmental since the volunteers providing their services are dog owners.

The owner of Odell, a previously retired college librarian, voiced that it is never too late to gain knowledge concerning children's literature.