Reading Labs

Assistance Dogs Australia’s ‘Reading Labs’, are the well trained helpers reeling in reluctant readers – book, line and sinker.

What is Reading Labs?

Reading Labs is an innovative educational program where Assistance Dogs in the community visit schools with their team mate (recipient), helping students with reading difficulties. And while they may look like your average dogs, don’t judge a book by its cover – these pups can achieve anything!

The idea of the program is that children read to the dogs, who not only make reading more fun, but who provide a non judgemental audience.” Assistance Dogs Australia’s Top Dog,Richard Lordsaid. “The dogs involved will not only have changed the life of someone with a physical disability but will now enhance the abilities of children in the classroom.”

The recipients involved in the program are just as important as their dogs, helping the children with unfamiliar words and also enhancing the child’s comprehension skills by getting them to explain what is happening in the story to the dog.

The program was officially launched on 6th Dogtober 2009 atClaytonNorthPrimary School, Clayton, VIC by Andy Griffiths, one ofAustralia’s most successful authors and Reading Labs Ambassador.

It seems the kids involved in Reading Labs are in good paws.

The Need for the Program

Literacy is strongly related to social well-being and participation in society. Literacy skills include reading, writing and numeracy tasks so it’s important that students develop these skills from an early age. Literacy is one of the central factors that shapes life choices and pathways. (Green et al. 1994)

According to the 2005 National Report on Schooling in Australia, about 7% of Year three students are not achieving the benchmark level in reading, writing and numeracy. This level is even higher for indigenous children.

Research suggests that those who do not perform well in any three of these areas are at increased risk of leaving school early and are more likely to experience poor educational, work and social outcomes (ABS, 1998).

The Reading Labs program aims to improve the literacy rate of children with reading difficulties as they ‘read to the dogs’. This program lays a foundation for a lifetime of learning and ultimately enhances the quality of the children’s lives.                                                 

The program was officially launched on 6th Dogtober 2009 atClaytonNorthPrimary School inClayton,Victoria, by Andy Griffiths, one ofAustralia’s most successful authors and Reading Labs Ambassador.

Aims and objectives of this project

To improve the literacy rate of children with reading difficulties through an innovative ‘reading to dogs’ program.

This program lays a foundation for a lifetime of learning and ultimately enhance the quality of the children’s lives.

In 2009, Assistance Dogs Australia launched this program which successfully piloted in Heathcote, NSW, then later at Plunkett Street Public School NSW and Clayton North Primary School VIC. The program gives children who found reading a challenge the opportunity to improve their reading skills, as well as gain confidence and self esteem by reading out loud to an assistance dog in a relaxed, fun and less threatening environment.

The ‘Reading Labs’ initiative gives each child the opportunity to practice and enjoy reading, away from their peers. Children who have difficulty reading often fear making mistakes in front of their friends and classmates. With a dog, there is no criticism or judgment, and they are seen as the ‘cool’ kids as they get extra classes with the super pups!

Contact us if you would like to get involved or for more information

 

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