![…as always….a kids best friend zoo-logic:
Reading the dog a bedtime story may not be such a silly idea after all. A recent study, conducted through the school summer holidays of 2010, got second-grade students of varying abilities to read aloud to either dogs or people for thirty minutes once a week. The research produced some surprising results. Those children who had read to people actually displayed a slight decline in reading ability, as well as in their attitude towards reading, whereas - remarkably - those who read to dogs showed an increase in both of these measures. In addition, of the nine students assigned to read to people, a third dropped out of the study before completion. No children left the dog group. Though the results were small and not statistically significant in the case of this experiment, the study has opened up an area for further research on the therapeutic impacts of reading with dogs. The findings so far suggest nevertheless that reading with dogs could help to prevent skills from dropping over the course of the summer holidays and encourage a positive attitude towards reading which is so important in learning.(This research isn’t truly zoology-related, but I just thought the idea of kids reading to dogs was really adorable!)Ref: Lenihan et al. (2011) Benefits of Reading Assistance Dogs. Tufts University [link]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lprobgpNE01qkrbaho1_250.jpg)
…as always….a kids best friend
zoo-logic:
Reading the dog a bedtime story may not be such a silly idea after all. A recent study, conducted through the school summer holidays of 2010, got second-grade students of varying abilities to read aloud to either dogs or people for thirty minutes once a week. The research produced some surprising results. Those children who had read to people actually displayed a slight decline in reading ability, as well as in their attitude towards reading, whereas - remarkably - those who read to dogs showed an increase in both of these measures. In addition, of the nine students assigned to read to people, a third dropped out of the study before completion. No children left the dog group. Though the results were small and not statistically significant in the case of this experiment, the study has opened up an area for further research on the therapeutic impacts of reading with dogs. The findings so far suggest nevertheless that reading with dogs could help to prevent skills from dropping over the course of the summer holidays and encourage a positive attitude towards reading which is so important in learning.
(This research isn’t truly zoology-related, but I just thought the idea of kids reading to dogs was really adorable!)
Ref: Lenihan et al. (2011) Benefits of Reading Assistance Dogs. Tufts University [link]
Join Barney Banana as they go on their fruit adventure.
Snapatoonies DVD’s are highly interactive and fun for toddlers, plus they entertain while they educate. Give your toddler a head start for preschool and school.
Snapatoonies - winner of the Dr Toys Best Picks Award 2011
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
…always a favorite
Lawrence Kutner"
Both my kids loved to learn to count by 5’s. never saw this B4 but I am sure they will love it….
Easy to challenging… kids always love a maze :-)
These terrific worksheets are free for you to use with your children. Posted by a kind and clever retired teacher - take a look around the site. Also has a free e-book worth looking at.
Some great kids food songs… bit of fun for lunch and play
