Patient dog helps Pennsylvania children learn to read


Save Story

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

It's story time at the library inside Thomas Fitzwater Elementary school in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

It's fourth grader Kayla Lombardo's turn to read to her school mates.

Of all her listeners, there's one Kayla likes to read to the most.

Her name is Shelby.

She's 7-years-old and she's a collie.

The biggest bookworm at this school is actually a dog.

Principal Joanna Rodgers says shelby comes to story time once a month.

It's been that way for three years.

During that time, Dr. Rodgers said the kids have been they've made dramatic strides in their reading fluency.

"It's less threatening. They know the dog is listening," she explained. "They know they're not going to have to correct their mistakes."

Perhaps the most important thing kids learn from Shelby is that it's okay to make mistakes, just as long as they fix them with dogged determination.

Most recent Features stories

Aditi Roy, NBC Newschannel
    KSL.com Beyond Business
    KSL.com Beyond Series

    KSL Weather Forecast

    KSL Weather Forecast
    Play button