+ MORE REVIEWS FROM ADMINISTRATORS

School and District Administrator Endorsements:

(cont. from main page) "This program is about so much more than reading to a dog. It is a great opportunity for the students to enjoy some highly engaging curriculum, to learn to take risks and to not feel pressure like they might when reading to a peer or a family member. Beyond the curriculum itself, it is a great opportunity for our students to learn about safety and responsibility around pets. This program is very motivating, not only for our students but for our teachers and parents as well. I strongly endorse this program." – Mike Long, Principal at Lincoln Public Schools

“The benefits have been extraordinary for our students!” Wow! What an effective, innovative program to inspire children to become stronger readers and to empower parents to help their children as they learn to read. What makes this program stand out is the excitement and the engagement students have in reading when they participate. Students are not threatened when they read to a stuffed animal, and it reduces that anxiety that many students feel about stumbling over words. When I hear teachers say that their students are comprehending more, are more engaged, and are wanting to read more often, those are indicators of a great program. We are always looking for innovative programs, and this is one of the ones that we think is going to make a difference for our students. I would love to see this program in every elementary school in California. – Tony Knapp, current Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Support Services, Beaumont Unified School District

“100% of parents said their child improved in reading.” We’re very proud that our school, Bubbling Wells Elementary, has been named a California Gold Ribbon School, and we are very committed to implementing the most innovative and research-based programs to help our students succeed. “How Dogs Help Kids Read and Succeed” has received rave reviews from our students, our staff, and from our parents. 100% of the parents at our school reported that this program helped their child become a better reader, and 98% of parents said that this program improved their child’s confidence in reading, and that their child wanted to read at home more often as a result of their participation. Over and over again, I hear our students say things like, “I love this program! It made me a great reader!” This program has absolutely increased student reading engagement and excitement towards literacy at our school, and it helped to boost our students’ scores in reading fluency and comprehension. We just signed on for another three years, and I highly recommend that other elementary schools check this program out. – Omar Tinoco, Principal of Bubbling Wells Elementary School

“The best ten weeks of my life!” We have participated in the How Dogs Help Kids Read and Succeed program for the past three years as part of our exceptional language arts curriculum at Rio Vista Elementary School. I am impressed and inspired by the overwhelming, positive feedback I hear from parents, teachers, and students about this program. 95% of our parents (emphasized) that this program helped their child to become a better reader, and 100% of our students said that they enjoyed this program and became better readers as a result of their participation. A Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills assessment and Lexia Reading Core 5 data confirm that our students have made great gains in reading fluency and comprehension.I highly recommend this program for other schools to help their students become stronger, more engaged readers. When I asked one second-grade student what she thought of the program, she said, “This was the best ten weeks of my life!” -Dr. Steve Marlatt, Principal of Rio Vista Elementary School

“Our DIBELS scores are fantastic!” What I love about the program “How Dogs Helps Kids Read and Succeed” is that it allows students the opportunity to develop vocabulary and reading skills in a fun and meaningful way by making connections using plush dogs. When I observe in classrooms, students are enthusiastic and engaged in the lessons. Through various read-alouds and writing activities students not only learn valuable literacy skills but also learn how to be safe around dogs and to develop compassion for animals. One of the best parts of the program is how it involves and empowers parents, teaching them weekly tips and strategies they can use when they are reading with their children at home. Perhaps the best part is that our DIBELS reading fluency scores have improved dramatically as a result of our students’ participation! This program really works, and I highly recommend it to help students become inspired and engaged readers. – Pamela Horton, Principal of Sunny Sands Elementary School

“Comprehension and fluency has increased dramatically.” I highly recommend the program "How Dogs Help Kids Read and Succeed in the Classroom." Not only have our students become inspired readers and learners, but our test scores indicate an increase of 16 words per minute on average as measured by DIBELS, and the percentage of our students at grade level in reading comprehension increased from 50% to 79%. This program is about so much more than reading to a dog. It is a great opportunity for the students to enjoy some highly engaging curriculum, to learn to take risks and to not feel pressure like they might when reading to a peer or a family member. Beyond the curriculum itself, it is a great opportunity for our students to learn about safety and responsibility around pets. This program is very motivating, not only for our students but for our teachers and parents as well. I strongly endorse this program. – Mike Long, Principal at Lincoln Public Schools

“A marked increase in student reading engagement.” Our students had a wonderful experience with this program. I observed a marked increase in student reading engagement and enthusiasm towards literacy. I highly recommend that other schools check it out! – Matt Belstein, Principal of Hoffer Elementary School

“98% of parents said their child became a better reader.” At Cielo Vista Charter, we pride ourselves on the implementation of innovative and effective strategies and learning systems to provide the very best possible experiences for our students. Post-program survey data indicate that 98% of parents reported that their child became a better reader and that their child wanted to read at home more often as a result of their participation in “How Dogs Help Kids Read and Succeed in the Classroom.” This is a fantastic program to empower parents to support their children in reading at home, and to teach children essential pillars of character with a specific focus on care, compassion, and respect for animals.
– Jennifer Geyer, Principal of Cielo Vista Charter School