Photo by Salty Dingo, 2023, created for Department of Communities & Justice.
Story Dogs mission is to make reading fun for children, so they become confident lifelong readers. Story Dogs recruits, accredits, trains, places, and supports volunteers and their dogs into their local primary school delivering 1000's of one-on-one reading sessions each year targeting year two children who, for whatever reason, are struggling with their reading.
When children read to a dog, the outcomes are amazing! It is a non-judgemental setting, the children's focus improves, their literacy skills increase and their confidence soars.
Story Dogs has over 530 volunteers and is currently partnered with over 350 primary schools all across Australia in every state and territory except the NT. Story Dog Team volunteers visit their local school each week, sit with each child for 20 minutes and listen to them read. They are at the school for 2 hours.
So many of our volunteers comment that seeing a young child go from being so anxious and fearful about reading to being bubbly, confident and fluent in their reading is an incredible joy. They know their efforts, and their wonderful dog makes a difference in a young child’s life. Volunteers have a sense of purpose and a new connection with their community through their involvement in their local school.
“In one term, I have seen a little boy who started on reading level 12 at the beginning of the term reach level 25 by the end. The little boy’s teacher is amazed, but watching him with 'Holly', it is clear that he just needed a reason to sit still while he reads. Patting 'Holly' while reading was the perfect excuse.”
Co-founder, Jane Sigley.
For more information about volunteering visit the Story Dogs website.