Tail-waggin' reading tutors

The Wayne County Public Library in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, is usually quiet, but every now and then someone barks. That would the dog in the new "Tail Waggin' Tutors" program designed to help children enjoy reading aloud. Instead of reading to a grown-up (who will correct every mistake), children read to a dog -- a furry friend who does not mind if they struggle over a word.

                                                                                                 Not the Wayne County Library
At the library, children learn to associate reading with being with the dog, so they view it in a positive way and enjoy practicing their reading skills. The program was developed for "reluctant readers" and placement is based on teacher referrals. A Tail Waggin' Tutor visit lasts only 20 minutes, but educators believe the impact lasts much longer, since a child may become more willing to read on his or her own.