Once a month, it's a dog world at Taylor Parks.  The Fur Angels, a local pet therapy group, visits our school.  Researchers in the U.S. have found that reading to dogs helped children improve their fluency by 30%.  The dogs, in contrast to a human, don't judge the individual, aren't grading the individual, and that allows the children to build
some confidence in their reading skills.

In addition to increased reading fluency, teachers have also noted:

• Students have improved self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Students find reading fun and volunteer to read aloud in class.

• Students are gentler and have more respecful interactions with animals.