Reading aloud is a critical component of early childhood literacy. SIT STAY READ’s unique literacy programs focus on 2nd and 3rd graders in low-income communities. At each program, every child has the opportunity to read aloud to a specially trained therapy dog. Reading to the dogs increases confidence and generates excitement about reading.

Dog-themed books and writing projects round out the program. The dogs bring the sessions to life and provide a text-to-world connection—read about a dog; see a dog; touch a dog. With an average of one adult to every four children, each child receives plenty of care and attention.

Reading for fluency and comprehension is the goal of every program. We work closely with each school and community organization to ensure success.

Test Scores Tell the Story

In conjunction with the prestigious UIC Center for Literacy, the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) test was administered to students before and after their participation in the 2004-5 Sit Stay Read school program. Students without the program were also evaluated, for comparison.

The exciting results demonstrate that students in the Sit Stay Read program had a dramatic improvement in their reading scores, increasing their rate by an average of 24 words per minute. Students in the control group (without the dogs) increased their rate by only 9 words per minute.

Commitment to quality programs, volunteer training, and on-going evaluation makes Sit Stay Read a leader in the fight for childhood literacy. The organization continues to look for ways to build on these fundamentals and bring programs to more children in need.