JAY — A new program at Spruce Mountain Elementary School where some students spend time reading to a dog is already showing benefits for all involved.

Judy Hamilton of Hartford brought Cooper, her yellow Labrador with her while delivering masks she had made for students during the coronavirus pandemic. School social worker Jennifer Stone mentioned it would be great to start a reading program with Cooper, Hamilton said Thursday afternoon, Feb.16.

“I would never have thought of it,” Hamilton said. “As the pandemic let up there were so many volunteer things I had been doing that would not work. I started bringing Cooper in in November before the holidays.”

Hamilton said when the weather is bad she doesn’t come to the school so there were some times after the New Year they weren’t at the school. “The kids were wondering where we were,” she said.

“Judy is so great with the students,” Stone said. “She comes in once a week, gives a little extra help with reading. Some students need extra attention. She has been coming so consistently they know their time, look forward to it.

“Sometimes children don’t like to read. This is a fun way to build reading into their day. The dog shows no judgment.” Hamilton is there to help pronounce a word or understand what something means, Stone noted.

There was no training, Hamilton said. “I thought that I would be in a room with the teacher and kids,” she said. “Instead it is just Cooper, me and a child.”

At the end of each session, the student gives Cooper an edible treat. The student often asks Cooper to follow a simple command before sharing the treat.

Stone did ask Hamilton to write a letter to send home to parents whose child[ren] were being considered for the program and permission had to be obtained, Hamilton said.

“At first Cooper was not used to kids,” Hamilton said. “Now he wants to go to them, loves having someone sit on the floor with him. It has worked out.”

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