Monday, January 7, 2013

Dogs Make Great Listeners

I love it when I find topics and ways to mix my teaching with my love of dogs.  I have even been picking up items here and there to slowly transform my classroom into a dog themed classroom.  I teach 5th grade, so that age of kids just eat it all up.  I also hope I am influencing a class of kids to find a level of love and respect for animals that they will carry through their lives.  We are using dog dishes to hold things like pencils and crayons, and I have finally found a good use for all my old dog calendar photos.  Hello lamination machine!  :) ...but one of the best ways I have learned to mix dogs and students is with reading.  Now I only WISH I could bring Murray into school all day with me, but that's not going to happen anytime soon, but families with kids and dogs at home can certainly utilize this tip.  Too often kids are called on to read in class and while reading, they might feel nervous and they often get interrupted by a well meaning teacher (or another student) to offer help with pronunciation of words.  There just are not enough opportunities for students to read aloud without corrections and possible anxiety.  Your dog is the perfect solution.  A child can snuggle up with their dog and a favorite book (or reading assignment) at home, and read aloud to the dog, and this gives kids the safety and comfort to practice and strengthen their reading skills without annoying and nerve racking interruptions.  All kids need to practice reading, and this provides that chance, and your dog gets some petting time too!  I think dogs often make better listeners!  Many people don't realize how in tune dogs can be to people and how they are there and always helping us .  This video should be convincing.


20 comments:

  1. Dats what me and My Girl does...her reads and I sit theres and listen cuz dats what I is suppose to do. And of course, I teached hers to love and respect animals. I wish more kids grew up bein; taught to respect us and stuffs.

    Dat video was beautifuls. Da dog knoew exactly what dat baby needed even if da baby not knows him self.

    Puddles

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  2. I agree, dogs are great listeners! I have seen similar videos (stories) about dogs helping kids with their reading...just by providing quiet support. It is amazing how dogs can affect a life!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am your newest follower and will be adding you to my blogroll, so I don't miss a thing!

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  3. Right, the grand peeps are five to eight, and they sit in their room with a dog or two and they just read togther with no peeps in the way. The little one had really bad speach, been reading to her pal for 2 years and now has great prononciaction!.

    Your Pals
    Susie & Bites

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  4. And dogs don't even care what the story is about!

    Keep Calm & Bark On,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  5. Murray my mom taught 2nd. grade and then became the Head Elem. Librarian... and guess what... she used to ALWAYS take Angel Baron to school at least 3 or 4 days per year. The kidlets LOVED having him there.

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  6. Us pups are good for so many things besides butt sniffing! :o)

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  7. Oh, that is the SWEETEST THINGS I have seen is along times!! Oh, some pups just know what peeps need (Ma says not MOI...yeah, nice Ma).
    Thanks for sharin'!
    Kisses,
    Ruby

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  8. Woof! Woof! So true. We love that video we shared it on our SPH Fb page. I used to go to my mom's class on Fridays. it sure helped many kids in her class. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  9. That is funtastic, I love being read too and not fuzzy what the stories about..BOL xx00x

    Mollie and Alfie

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  10. That is the sweetest. We help in so many ways with young, old, disabled and ill. Have a terrific Tuesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  11. We love it when mama snuggles with us and reads to us...we don't really care what it is about either!! xoxo Chloe and LadyBug

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  12. Thanks for this cute video. I agree, dogs are fabulous listeners.... I like it if my mom reads something to me (but after some minutes I sleep like a log)

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  13. There are library programs where therapy dogs go to listen to kids read to them. It sounds like lots of fun!

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  14. We have always said that!
    When human brother #3 was little and came home from school, Mum used to ask what he had done that day. He almost always answered 'nothing much' then went into the room, put his arm around our dog and started telling her all about his day, ha!
    Dip Bridge and Elliot x

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  15. Mom says she has recently read a number of articles on this very topic & that dogs love hearing you read to them just as much!!

    We would love a bed time story!
    Wally & Sammy

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  16. Love that video so much.

    Of course Murray should be allowed at school with you. If Mrs. Master were a city problem solver, she would suggest dogs in every school for protection and for educational value. Seems like a no brainer!

    Nora

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  17. What a great idea. I think teaching respect for animals transfers to respect for all living things (people included). Have fun with your grade 5s!

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  18. Dogs make excellent listeners!

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