The first week in March 2020 was designated as “Reading Across Holland Elementary School Week.” Howard Barkan, better known to the kids as Mr. Howard, volunteers with his therapy dog Winnie in a third grade class taught by Kelly Burdette and Amanda Vierick. When Mr. Howard and Winne walked into the classroom on Wednesday of…
Research states that 82% of teenagers today recognize that they suffer from medium to high stress levels during the school year, and 46% of teachers feel exposed to high stress in their daily lives Our emotional state conditions our whole life; it is the engine of our daily experiences in school and influences student performance….
I am a retired Council Rock special education teacher. The year before I retired, my husband and I rescued a 5 year old Siberian Husky named Rory. Neither of us had any past experiences with dogs. Our youngest adult daughter had adopted a Husky who became our grand-dog, and we adored him. My daughter said…
At Halloween, Mr. Nelson brought Bubba’s costume to class in a bag. The students had clues to guess what the costume was. They were eventually able to guess that Bubba was going to dress up as a super hero (Super Bubba). They were thrilled when Bubba put on his cape, and each student had their…
If you have wondered how a dog’s brain works, or more importantly, how it differs from the human brain, here are some wonderful books to add to your reading list. We’d love to hear what YOU are reading that helps you understand canine behavior. The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson Inside of a Dog: What…
“I have a student in my special education classroom that can be considered “non-verbal”. Only when prompted does she use expressive language, but spontaneous expressive language continues to be an IEP (Individual Educational Prescription) goal of hers. After a third weekly visit from Karen and Brigg, this student shared more detailed information about her own…
Dear Friends and Supporters: Please consider making a donation to Nor’wester Therapy Dogs so that we can continue to grow our program and services. It is people like you who help us keep the therapy dog magic alive for students who are struggling socially, emotionally, and academically. If you prefer not to donate via the…
Mike Nelson and his teachers work together closely. They communicate weekly regarding the expectations the teacher has for the upcoming therapy dog visit. Mike then offers suggestions about what he and Bubba can do to enhance the goals set for the visit. This collaboration has produced amazing results and supports the mission and vision of…
Mike Nelson and his Golden Retriever Bubba have been volunteering with Nor’wester Therapy Dogs since 2012. They are one of our teams that work primarily with special needs students. Not only do Mike and Bubba currently visit four classes weekly, they also do summer Extended School Year visits. We asked Mike to share a bit…