Windy Possibilities: June 2018

Andy Roddick Summer Learning Program

At the Andy Roddick Summer Learning Program, Tuesdays after lunch is "reading with a dog" time. The kids partner up and then each group takes turns reading to Wichita. The timing is great for me, because I can volunteer during my lunch break. The kids really love Wichita, we've gone 3 weeks now and have been in a different classroom each time. The first week the kids met Wichita and immediately asked "is he a red-nosed pit bull?" I didn't know that until I read everything I could find about his coloring...how on Earth did a few 9 year old know that? The second week one of the teachers called Wichita an "angel baby sent from heaven". The third week, a kid asked "is he trained?" I said yes and gave a few examples. The kids asked "can we see?" I had Wichita sit, down, come, stay, and when I walked back to him, I threw him a treat which he caught in mid air. The kids (and teachers) applauded. Wichita loves the attention from all the kids.

Oak Springs Elementary aka Roo's school

Roo's second on-going therapy dog assignment is at Oak Springs Elementary. At Oak Springs the reading program is targeted toward kids who have been diagnosed with dyslexia. Reading to Roo motivates them to reach their reading goals and helps them see that reading is fun. Roo loves going to Oak Springs and since he has a specific group of kids there, he's gotten to know them really well. Roo is very popular and well loved at Oak Springs, so much that we got our picture on the wall with the staff!

Roo and me on the wall at Oak Springs

Roo also knows the Oak Springs principal Ms. Woods really well.

Roo with Principal Woods

A few pictures from reading at Oak Springs:

I think Roo misses Oak Springs this summer and I know he'll be so happy to go back when school starts again.

Little Walnut Creek Library

A few of the coloring pages of Roo kids have colored while waiting to read.

The Little Walnut Creek Library was Roo's first on-going therapy dog assignment, we began going in Sept. 2017. We go every Wednesday from 4:30-5:30. Roo loves his library and he's developed quite a crew of regular readers. Since the library isn't a targeted program with goals for each individual reader, we keep it pretty flexible. Sometimes, if the child is too young, I read to him/her instead of him/her reading to Roo. We also have a lot of Spanish speaking kids (and parents) so I get to practice my first grade level Spanish, and frequently have to ask parents or older siblings for help.