By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Kids and dogs are more than photogenic. They make good reading partners, too. Cathy Ivers, a kindergarten teacher at Eatonville Elementary School, got good results when she took Colby, her pet collie, to class recently for some special reading time, first with her students and later with first-graders. Children snuggled with books and the gentle, purebred male collie, who seemed to enjoy the experience as much as his new human friends. Ivers said the animal-enhanced reading program benefits from the presence of 6-year-old Colby, who's about the same age chronologically as the children. "What I'm really hoping for is to reach reluctant learners or those quiet, shy kids who might hold back at school," Ivers said. "Perhaps there is a child who doesn't readily or eagerly participate, but if you set a live dog in front of them, they are excited, happy, involved and learning all at once. I want Colby to reach these children when he visits." The process on one day last month included guest-reader Krestin Bahr, the superintendent of Eatonville School District. Colby laid placidly at Bahr's feet while the children crowded around eagerly to hear a story. Last spring, Ivers introduced PALS (People and Animals Learning at School) as a way to give children added motivation to read by interacting in class with four-legged friends. Rabbits and guinea pigs in cages helped the students get enthused for stories and learning about the animal kingdom. Now it's Colby's turn to add some furry fun to reading. "All you need to do is see how he quietly and gently approaches any hesitant child to know this program is important," Ivers said. "The moment the kids walk through the door and see Colby, they can't stop petting him, talking to him or telling us about their own dogs. I see the kids come to life and immediately engage in the books and asking questions about dogs."
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