See Spot Read therapeutic dog program is an exciting reading skills development tool offered to all JLSA students at no additional charge. During a See Spot Read session, each JLSA student has the opportunity to interact with a therapy dog by snuggling up to them and reading to them. See Spot Read works with children to develop and enhance reading skills, create paw print art work, reduce anxiety to dogs, and share in a joyful group activity.
From the See Spot Read Website:
" Literacy specialists acknowledge that children who are below their peers in reading skills are often intimidated by reading aloud in a group, have lower self-esteem, and view reading as a chore. Dog reading programs are based on the premise that children will find reading to an animal less intimidating than reading to their peers, parents or teachers.
Research with therapy animals indicates that children with low self-esteem are often more willing to interact with an animal than with another person. Being with the dog is relaxing and fun, and builds a positive association with reading activities. Instead of reading being a chore, it becomes something to look forward to when a dog is involved."