VIDEO: Oakview Therapy Dog Helps Kids Learn to Read (PHOTOS)

For staff and students at Oakview Elementary School, the excited giggles outside Guidance Counselor Rebecca Beutel’s office can mean only one thing: It must be “Shea Day.”

Once a month, Shea, an AKC–registered therapy dog, comes to visit the K-6 school as part of an innovative literacy program. 

“Therapy dogs in literacy programs work well in school because kids can read to dogs and not feel self-conscious,” explains Beutel, sitting in her office on a recent Thursday afternoon while Shea dozes at her feet.  “The Superintendent loved the idea of starting the literacy program here, not just for regular kids but for the special education population as well.”

In fact, Oakview School’s program is similar to ones cropping up all over the U.S. based on the Reading Education Assistance Dogs program (R.E.A.D.)

“R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children,” states the Intermountain Therapy Animals organization’s website.  “The mission of the R.E.A.D. program is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.”

Shea, a sweet-tempered golden retriever named for the famous baseball stadium, also happens to be Beutel’s dog.  Shea accompanies Beutel once a month to Oakview, where she is a motivator for reading and writing exercises as well as a reward for good behavior and hard work.  She has influenced learning in all areas of the school from the kindergarten to sixth grade, as well as in the self-contained, ungraded classes of special needs students.  

“I knew the little guys would get a kick out of her but the older ones are just as excited,” says Beutel. “She’s used as a motivator in the upper grades for good behavior and for writing prompts.  Some have done writing prompts about therapy dogs to prepare for the NJ ASK.”

She adds, “They even talk about her in math class. Like, if they’re working on probabilities they’ll tell me, ‘I’ve got really good odds to come see Shea this month'.”

Clutching their books and PAWS PASSES, about twenty kids are chosen each month to visit Shea in Beutel’s office.  But even getting a glimpse of the dog is exciting for children walking past the office.  At the sight of a small, grinning face peering around the doorway, Shea’s tail begins to wag.

Beutel says Shea’s ability to make the children happy one of the best parts of having a therapy dog in school. 

“If there’s a kid who needs a boost, a teacher might give them a PAW PASS to help them get a little extra individualized attention,” she says.  “When Shea works in the self-contained class for kids with autism, the kids start out very, very nervous.  Shea is very docile.  That’s exactly what the kids need so they can feel confident enough to touch her.”

Overall, Beutel feels the therapy dog literacy program is working out beautifully at Oakview.  She is pleasantly surprised at how much her canine companion has motivated the children academically.

“They really love showing her their books and teaching her.  I thought the novelty would wear off but it hasn’t,” she says.  “They literally count down the days till she gets here.  Hearing kids read to her, especially ones who struggle with reading, is awesome!”