Reading to Dogs In Wisconsin

Third Graders Are Reading Barking Planet Books to Dogs

Reading to dogs, by third graders in the Longfellow Elementary School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is having a definite positive impact on their skills and enthusiasm for reading.

Julie Hauck, the teacher who developed this innovative program, is measuring the results and is producing a study, backed by statistical analysis, that substantiates the positive impact of the program.

Planet Of The Dogs and Castle In The Mist  have been chosen as core books for the program -- Pages For Preston.

Preston -- a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel -- is the dog in these photos taken in the classroom.

Jezebel, the second dog currently in the program, is a Papillon.

Here are some comments regarding Planet Of The Dogs made by the children in Wisconsin:               

"The kids and the dogs can teach adults a lesson."  "The dogs use Daisy and Bean because kids have more love than adults."   "I like that there is different places for different kinds of dogs, like Waggy Valley and Muttville."   "This book is good because it teaches about problem solving."   "The book is good because it teaches about friendship."   "The dogs can understand  the kids and the kids can understand the dogs."

In April, Julie Hauck made a presentation of the Pages For Preston program at the Wisconsin Interlakes Reading Council.  The presentation included a DVD of the children reading to the dogs, an appearance by Preston, and a copy of the Barking Planet  books for all the attendees (43). The Council -- comprised of librarians, teachers, school psychologists, principals and  other educational professionals -- gave the presentation a  very warm reception.

"My students are absolutely enthralled with Planet Of The Dogs. I was in awe at their eagerness to learn about the characters and events in the story...to witness their applying character lessons from the book to their own peer interactions...We started reading Planet's sequel and my students beg to read these books during free time...great motivators...I highly recommend these books..." Julie Hauck

                                    .......................................................

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world. the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog."-

Samuel Coleridge (Table-Talk 1830)

                                                              .............