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….
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…
hand to paw – relieving test anxiety It’s common for students to experience anxiety when anticipating the PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) testing, which is administered to third and fifth graders in Pennsylvania elementary schools. Teachers do whatever they can to encourage their students to be confident and comfortable about taking the test. Last…
by Jan Reisen Published on American Kennel Club website: July 31, 2019 Dogs have been aiding and working with humans since ancient times, in everything from farming to hunting to protection and more. Service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs all fulfill important roles in their aid to humans, but the terms are not…
Howard Barkan with Winnie and Debbie Glessner with Hannah and Heidi did ESY (extended school year) visits to Goodnoe Elementary in Council Rock School District to work with Lindsay Hawthorne’s class. One of her students, Nate Whitney, wrote about his experiences with Winnie and Hannah. Petting Hannah Therapy Dogs By Nate Whitney My experience with…
“I truly do not think there is enough time in my lifetime to fully express how much Kerrigan and Cathy Guenzel have made a difference in my classroom this year. As I type this, I am preparing the room for our “Last Day with Kerrigan” celebration. For our celebration, each student will be receiving a…
By Carol VanSant One therapy dog job that almost everyone is familiar with is to help people manage grief. It doesn’t matter whether it is a large tragedy or an individual personal loss, therapy dogs help alleviate the pain. If you have done any reading about the benefits of therapy dogs, you may know that…
Carla Foy grew up in Bethlehem, PA. Her father was an airline pilot, and her mother owns a used/rare bookstore called The Old Library Bookshop. She has always loved children and teaching, and she was encouraged by her grandmother to pursue education as a career. Before coming to Council Rock, she taught in a Catholic…
Three years ago my life changed when my dog Colette and I joined Nor’wester Therapy Dogs. We were assigned to a third-grade classroom at Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School in the Upper Dublin School District. My couch potato dog, a sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was now up and off the couch, and I was with…
Stephanie’s Story What Carol says is true…I always wanted therapy dogs in my classroom! I used to teach in a zoo, and I have always had pets in my classroom. I was so happy when Carol, Violet, and Tex were assigned to my class. I have always strongly believed that we can learn a lot…