Reading Partners Program Spurs Relationships
Posted on September 12, 2016 by
Mark Muehl
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Quality Education
Volunteers and First Graders Connect through Reading and DogsIf dogs are man’s best friend, then it’s no wonder they make a great pal for early readers. In Amy Scott’s first grade class last year, children were paired with reading volunteers and later, therapy dogs, encouraging young readers with their literacy development.It all began when Mary Eifert, principal at Ascension Lutheran School, asked if Mrs. Scott would be interested in using church volunteers to help read with first graders. When Mrs. Scott said she was, they asked for help in the church bulletin. The response was positive, opening the door to a program that encouraged literacy and forged a stronger partnership between the church and school. But the real satisfaction was seeing the relationships that happened as a result of the program.