Page 6
February 28, 2018
‘That Was Fun! I can’t Wait to Read Again’
Dogs make great
reading partners
For many children with learn-
ing challenges like dyslexia, the
idea of sharing a book aloud is
fraught with anxiety. Finding the
courage to overcome the fear of
reading can be a battle.
“I don’t like reading because
I’m not good at it,” says fifth grad-
er Kaleah.
But not on Shadow Day. At
Sitton School in north Portland,
the kids in Mandee Bish’s class-
room have picked out their fa-
vorite books to share with a new
friend—a black and white poodle
named Molly, who is there to lis-
ten to their reading.
Educators say that dogs make
great reading partners because
they can gently nudge students to
keep going, or strategically place a
paw to offer support and enhance
focus. Dogs also have a calming
effect that can reduce anxiety, and
their quiet presence boosts con-
fidence, courage … and reading
comprehension.
Indeed, Molly quietly lays on
her blanket and sets her chin on
The comfort provided by a black-and-white poodle named Molly
helps Kaleah, a fifth grader at Sitton Elementary in north Portland,
lower her anxiety level during a reading session.
the kids’ legs, closing her eyes
to the soft sound of the students’
reading. No matter that their
words are sometimes halting. No
matter that they miss some words
or mix up letters. Molly patiently
listens, and the kids finish their
books and forget for a moment
their struggles with reading.
“That was so fun!” says Kale-
ah. “I can’t wait to read again!”
Shadow Day is an annual event
to honor Shadow, a dog born on
Valentine’s Day, who is the inspi-
ration behind the nonprofit Shadow
Project. The Shadow Project ar-
ranged for Molly’s visit in collab-
oration with Columbia River Pet
Partners to celebrate its 15th anni-
versary in Portland Public schools,
and the fourth year in the district’s
innovative, collaborative Read To-
gether initiative, which is focused
on literacy in underserved schools.
For more information, go to
shadow-project.org.
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