School pup encourages kids to pick up a book
STOUGHTON, Wis. - An elementary school in Wisconsin has a very special helper whose job it is to help students become more involved in reading.
Gus, a 7-year-old Labrador, may not know how to read.
But he encourages students at Prairie Elementary School to pick up a book.
He works with his own literary specialist Marilee Cronin to build students' reading skills.
"Dogs are a nonjudgmental ear to read to. They just have a calming presence," Cronin said. "Sometimes if reading is something that brings anxiety for them, sitting and reading with a pet can be a calming way to encourage and keep engagement up."
Students say they enjoy reading out loud to Gus because he doesn't pass any judgment as they take their time to learn.