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First-grader Tyler Strickland had a fish that died, a dog that died and a cat that ran away.
Now he spends time with Annabelle, a big-eyed beagle who listens to him read once a week at
Faith Baptist Christian School.
"Annabelle's funny sometimes," third-grader Jonathan Randolph
said. He reads to her too, while she lies politely on her side beside her grey-white bath mat in
the small library near the church sanctuary.
Annabelle is part of Caring Canines, a volunteer
organization based in Highland that offers animal-assisted activities and therapy to people of
all ages in the Baltimore-Washington area.
At Faith, Annabelle's presence helps selected
students become better readers through a program called Canine-Assisted Reading Education (CARE).
The program's premise is that children can become better readers by reading to a dog. Dogs
don't correct and they don't criticize; they simply listen while a child reads aloud to them.
A dog's presence thus creates a non-threatening environment that can help children gain
confidence in their reading skills, according to Annabelle's owners, Michelle and Mark Cohen.
Kindergartner Ayris Hopkins displayed that confidence.
"I didn't get any wrong," he
announced proudly of letters of the alphabet he identified. (In fact, he did get one wrong but
Annabelle didn't point that out to him.)
"It's great for us," Principal Esther Marsh said of
the program. "It's become hugely popular. We've gotten really good reports from the teachers."
She added, "I've been surprised that the results are as quick as they are."
All four students in the program read to Annabelle without exhibiting any nervousness, despite
the presence of a reporter, a photographer and the principal.
Annabelle has been coming to the school since March, Michelle Cohen said.
Cohen, a Laurel resident and member of Faith Baptist, met Marsh at the church's talent show.
Marsh saw the potential in having Annabelle as a reading helper and "got it rolling pretty quickly,"
Cohen said.
During a session, a child reads for 15 to 20 minutes once a week to Annabelle. Dog
and owner come for one hour and see four children, each individually.
Although Annabelle lies
quietly while a child reads, when a book closes she comes to life, leaping up and wagging her tail.
Cohen has devised a series of flashcards that describe what Annabelle can do: catch, beg, speak,
shake hands, bow, heel. When a child recognizes the word or phrase on the flashcard, Annabelle
performs the action and gets a treat.
"Beagles love children and they're very food-motivated
and they're very smart," Cohen explained. "They're very sweet, very friendly and very confident."
Annabelle enjoys coming to the readings, according to Cohen. "When she sees that green bag and
that harness, she gets psyched."
Annabelle always gets a bath before a session too.
"We don't want any stinky dogs," Cohen explained.
Cohen, who learned about CARE from a
friend, works with the children strictly a volunteer. This is her first foray into tutoring
in reading. Her reward is her student's progress.
"I watch them learn and grow, which is
pretty cool," she said.
Would she volunteer at another school? Cohen says yes without hesitation.
For more information on Caring Canines, call 301-585-6283.
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