Eastern Pulaski Elementary School students are getting some help from a reading companion. Title I Reading Intervention Teacher Meagon Losh told the school board last week that many of her students struggle. Getting them to read and re-read a book enough times for them to practice and get better can be a challenge.
That’s where “Reading with Rita” comes in. Rita is a therapy dog who’s part of the Tail Waggin’ Tutors program put together by Therapy Dogs International. Losh said one of its biggest goals is to get kids excited about reading, encouraging them to try harder and ultimately be more successful. At Eastern Pulaski, that idea seems to be working. Losh said kids have no problem practicing when she tells them they’re doing it for Rita.
In addition to helping students with online language courses, the effort has also given Rita a new purpose. Her owner, Peach Roth, told the school board that Rita used to be her husband’s service dog. After he passed away last June, Roth decided that Rita was too good to let her retire, so she adopted her and gave her a second career as a registered therapy dog.
Roth commented that Rita is really good with the kids, and the students are amazing, reading to Rita with the proper flow and inflection. And Losh says Rita loves listening to them read.
