I'm in a book!

I'm in a book!  Well, to be perfectly honest, I had very little to do with the production of this book.  Let me rewind a little bit to explain.  I have been running a reading with therapy dogs program at my school for the last 3 years and it is the most amazing and wonderful things I have ever had the pleasure of doing.  It all started when, in my first 6 months of my job, my principal asked me to participate in a meeting with some lovely volunteers who were looking to bring their dogs to some new schools.  They had had plenty of experience with this and he received a recommendation for them from a family member.  It was all perfect timing because the subject of reading with therapy dogs had just come up in one of our IEP meetings.  Both of us had no experience with it, but we thought...why not?  After our initial meeting with the volunteers he said to me, "Do you think you can get everything set up and run the program?".  To which I, being new and wanting to make a good impression, said, "Sure thing, no problem!".  Luckily it all worked out wonderfully and it has been a great hit with the kids and parents.  

From the very first day, I was hooked.  I had one student who was an extremely reluctant reader.  That's even an understatement of how against reading he was.  He was, however, a huge dog lover.  He was so excited for the dogs to come, he talked about it all week.  The day finally came and he sat down next to his new furry friend and proceeded to read no less than 7 decodable readers.  It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.  He read more in that 15 minute time frame than he had all week with me.  I saw and continue to see the same thing over and over again.  As soon as the students sit down next to their dogs, they feel safe and willing to take risks as readers.  They understand that the dog isn't going to call them out for a misread word.  Another little girl, in anticipation of the dogs coming, told her parents she had to practice her reading at home so that she could get good for the dogs that were coming to school.  It is such a special motivator for students of all reading abilities.  

One day the local news came to do a story on our program.  There was an outpouring of appreciation and support from the community, but of course, with the positive you're always going to get some negative.  There were just a handful of "Negative Nellies" that felt it necessary to spend their time bashing something they really don't understand.  The ones that I remember questioned why tax dollars were going towards this and mocked the public education system.  It's sad to me to see and hear people be so closed off to something that is so touching, heartwarming, and uplifting for all students...perhaps those naysayers are the ones that need the puppy time after all.

Over all, it has been a tremendous benefit for my students.  I opened the program up to all students at school, not just the ones with IEPs.  This helps my classroom be a place that all students feel comfortable going to.  It's my goal as a special educator to fight the stigma that is "the special ed room".  Additionally, it gives me opportunities to work with and get to know students who are not yet on my caseload but are in the SST process.  I can't say enough what a positive thing this program is and how much it has helped my students grow as confident readers.  

Cut to today when I received a package in my mailbox at school.  I completely forgot about the woman who had called shortly after the program had started to ask me a few questions about how my program was run.  She informed me that she was writing a book to help others to learn the logistics of running a therapy dog program at their school or library.  We spoke a few times and she asked me some detailed questions and promised me she would send a copy when it was done.  So here it is, I can't find it online anywhere yet so it must not be available yet.  It really is a great informative book for anyone who is interested in starting a program at their school.