A Hair-Raising Story

Listen Up: These Teachers' Pets Are Helping Kids Become Better Readers

(Lois Raimondo - The Washington Post)

Happy to be at school, Ross pranced into Kathy Van de Poll's Gaithersburg classroom one morning last week. Curled up on a comfy blue blanket by the windows, he seemed content listening to Amelia Bedelia and Arthur stories.

Christian Posada, 9, told Ross he looked just like a character in the book "How Much Is a Million?" Jennifer Flores, 10, asked Ross to select a book from the five in her arms. He seemed undecided, so Jennifer asked if he liked pancakes. Satisfied that he did, she began to read "If You Give a Pig a Pancake."

After two hours, Ross's day at school was over. For helping four kids become better readers, he got a pat on the head and a thank you from the teacher. Not a bad day's work for the 105-pound, 8-year-old Irish setter.

Ross or another dog, a golden retriever named Tucker, comes to Washington Grove Elementary each week. The two are specially trained as Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.), which means they are very well-behaved and enjoy being with people -- even squirmy children.

Not that there's much squirming when Ross or Tucker settles down with any of the four kids in the R.E.A.D. program at Washington Grove, one of two Montgomery County schools using it. Jennifer and Christian, both from El Salvador, sat statue-still last week as they read to Ross, who stretched out beside them, sometimes looking up with eyes like rich milk chocolates.

In their 30-minute session, Christian showed Ross several pictures in his books. If Christian stumbled over a tough word, Ross's owner, Barbara Murgo, would say: "I'm not sure Ross knows that word. Could you repeat it?"

One of Jennifer's books talked about tap-dancing, so she explained to Ross what tap shoes are. She also looked at photos and read the captions in his puppy book.

So, how do dogs help kids read better? In part, the dogs build confidence. (If you mess up a word, a dog isn't going to laugh or correct you.) And, because petting them is relaxing, the kids aren't nervous about reading.

Christian likes his time with Ross: "It feels good because he pays attention. He listens to my stories. He wags his tail."

Jennifer said Tucker and Ross have improved her reading because she enjoys books more. At home, she has started reading in English to her Spanish-speaking parents.

Principal Kathy Brake has noticed the change in her R.E.A.D. kids. "The shining eyes we see when they leave," she said, give the program an A-plus.

-- Marylou Tousignant