By Leslie Wessner, Literacy Programs Coordinator
Animal Friends offers two literacy focused, animal-centric programs for students and their families: Reading with Rover and PALS (Pet Assisted Literacy Services at Parks, After-School and Libraries).
Reading with Rover is a school-based program that serves first through third grade students who need reading intervention. These students read aloud to visiting canine Therapets teams for 20-30 minutes. The goal is to provide a non-judgmental reading experience, using books that reflect Animal Friends’ vision of a more humane world for companion animals and humans alike.
PALS offers companion animal-themed literacy experiences to readers of any age across the Pittsburgh region. The Summer Reading Extravaganza held by Carnegie Library in Oakland is a great example of a PALS event. The Animal Friends Literacy Services tent at this event is an oasis of bean bags and kids snuggling with a great book and dog friend. A summer calendar of PALS events will be available in June 2020 at ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org/Literacy.
Pressley Ridge students have the unique opportunity of having their own Reading with Rover experience right here on our campus. Groups of 2-3 students come to Animal Friends several times each month and read for 30 minutes to a certified therapy dog, cat or rabbit. Students have time to ask questions, interact with the animal, read aloud, then tour our Resource Center.
The impact of both Reading with Rover and PALS programming continues to impress educators and inspire community members:
“We had a parent cal
l on Monday telling us that the Reading with Rover program has made such a difference in regards to her daughter’s reading progress as well as her confidence. They asked that we never stop offering the program and would like to make a donation. So exciting!” – Kristen Huskey, Ingomar Elementary teacher
“It has been an absolute delight having your dedicated volunteers and their amazing dogs in our store for the PALS events so far this summer. The turnout has been solid and I know that the parents and children who have attended have had a really nice time engaging with the dogs. (And everyone on our staff loves having the dogs here too!)” – Barnes and Noble, Cranberry
Through this animal-centric reading program, we are putting literacy in the hands of children and youth, allowing an interaction with a dog, cat or bunny, while reinforcing the value of reading. For everyone involved – teachers, librarians, community members, students, parents, volunteers and our Therapets – these literacy experiences are not just educational, but joyful. Spreading a love of literacy and animals is what Literacy Services is all about!