Helping students boost their reading confidence while having fun is the goal of some special furry friends in Waroona.
Part of a volunteer-based nationwide program, selected students in Years 2 and 3 at Waroona District High School and St Joseph’s School, Waroona welcome Story Dogs to their classrooms each week.
The students are given the opportunity to read in front of the dogs, which have been assessed, in a relaxed and less stressful environment.
St Joseph’s assistant principal Caroline Leighton said the Story Dogs program provided a unique environment where children were supported to build their confidence and develop a greater enjoyment of reading.
“It offers a low-stress and engaging opportunity for children to read to a Story Dog, helping them enhance their reading skills,” she said.
“All students are eager to participate, and the program complements the teachers’ instruction by supporting the development of reading fluency and comprehension.”
Ms Leighton said students looked forward to the sessions each week, often watching the clock in anticipation of their time with the Story Dogs team.
“The students form a wonderful relationship with the Story Dogs volunteer and the dog,” she said.
“They particularly enjoy the opportunity to interact with the dogs.”
She said the school felt very blessed to participate in the program and to have the volunteers as valued members of the St Joseph’s School community.
Since beginning in New South Wales in 2009, the program has grown to partner with more than 380 schools across Australia and 546 volunteer dog teams.
Volunteering with her dog Bindi, Hayley Lewkowski said she loved seeing the children’s reading skills develop along the way.
“Just seeing them come out of their shell and getting more confident and wanting to choose the books,” she said.
Taking part with her dog Buddy, Story Dogs volunteer co-ordinator for Waroona Vanessa Wheeler has been involved in the program for more than four years, and said there was much to love about it, including working with the other volunteers.
“I love reading and I love animals, so it combined a double passion for me,” she said.
“Just going there and interacting with the kids and just helping out.”
With the program solely relying on volunteers, Ms Wheeler said Story Dogs was always on the lookout for new people to join, as well as local sponsors to help keep the program running.
Those interested in learning more, volunteering, or sponsorship can head to the Story Dogs website at www.storydogs.org.au.
