Paws for Reading helps PIE students
Dedicated community volunteers bring their trained therapy dogs onto the Pine Island Elementary (PIE) School’s campus each week to visit with students across grades K-5.
The school reported the Paws for Reading program offers a non-threatening, calm environment where young readers feel entirely safe to open up a book and practice reading aloud at their own pace.
“The volunteers mention that they leave each Paws for Reading session with such pride watching the students improve in their reading,” PIE literacy coach Melinda Sue Nelson said.
For emerging readers, practicing out loud can sometimes bring feelings of stress or fear of making mistakes. The school noted that the gentle presence of a therapy dog transforms that dynamic.
For more information about the program or to volunteer, contact PIE at 239-283-0505.
Pine Island Elementary is at 5360 Ridgewood Drive, Bokeelia.