Students participating in the animal assisted therapy reading program have been taking part in an extension project called “Pick of the Litter.” Each week students meet with Ms. Ferment and Cleo our resident speech, reading, and language therapy dog in the school library. There is a special reading nook we call the “Canine Corner” where students read aloud to Cleo and partake in interactive discussions with Ms. Ferment.

“Pick of the Litter” provides a highly supportive and therapeutic one-on-one experience that truly gets each student exciting about reading. Students are asked to revisit some of their favorite books and write book recommendations for their classmates. Other students can then read through the “top picks” from their peers when deciding which book their canine friend might enjoy listening to next.

special needs student in animal assisted therapy for reading and expressive language reinforcement

A student reads to Cleo in the Canine Corner, a reading nook in the School’s library

The students hone their vocabulary, comprehension skills, and memory skills as they recall memorable characters, share key events or laugh about a funny scene. Cleo offers companionship and unconditional love and support as students work on their reading skills.  With every session, students are becoming stronger readers while enhancing their expressive language ability.

The Calais School’s Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program is comprised of two highly trained and certified handlers and three facility dogs. AAT is often integrated into the educational and therapeutic programs and methodologies found at Calais. By incorporating animal assisted therapy into speech and language therapy, students are able to address communication deficits in a non-judgmental environment.