Pooch on patrol for reading readiness as uni studies school therapy dogs
A primary in Melbourne’s east is taking a different approach to learning, with an adorable pooch proving to be secret weapon when it comes to bettering students reading skills and attendance.
Education
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An unlikely literacy legend is having a pawsitive affect on primary school children’s reading.
Ruby the labradoodle has become Orchard Grove Primary’s secret weapon to improving student literacy as kids read her books every day.
“Reading with Ruby is fantastic because she’s not a critic,” principal Glenda Harry said.
A teacher’s pet, Ruby was brought in as the school therapy dog seven years ago.
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She spends her days wandering off-leash between students in class and listening to their reading, offering cuddles to children in the sick bay and heading to meetings with the social worker.
“She’s brilliant with children on the spectrum and wonderful with kids with anxiety,” Ms Harry said, explaining that some kids with a past of school refusal have attended class because they’re scheduled to walk Ruby.
Monash University researchers are even doing a study on Ruby, looking at therapy dogs’ impact on learning in an educational setting.
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Ruby will be on hand as Orchard Grove Primary students take up the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge to read more books, alongside 250,000 other students.
The Blackburn South school will host ‘Night Library’ events to urge students and their parents to borrow books, with prizes for children who get involved.
Through the Premiers’ Challenge, students with hearing impairments are being encouraged to listen to audio books while kids with multicultural backgrounds are supported to read books in the language they speak at home.
The book Wonder by R.J. Palacio has been nominated as Victorian kids’ favourite, followed by J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Education Minister James Merlino said the reading challenge was “a great success story”, driven by enthusiastic teachers and parents.
“A love of reading is crucial to a child’s educational development,” he said.
“Not only does it support literacy, but it also inspires curiosity, imagination and creativity.”
The Premiers’ Reading Challenge continues through to September.
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