Reading with a Saint Bernard

This is in the Chronicle Herald today about my friend Patti's son, Keegan and reading to a Saint Bernard!

Dog teaches new tricks One-on-one sessions a treat for kids, volunteers involved in library’s free Paws to Read programBy LOIS LEGGE Features Writer Wed. Dec 3 - 6:01 AM

Mark Grant and his partner Hercules, a St. Bernard, reads with seven-year-old Keegan Martin in the Paws to Read program at the Halifax Library on Spring Garden Road. Herc visits the library every Saturday to help children master reading skills. (INGRID BULMER / Staff)
THE LITTLE BOY’S hand meets the big dog’s paw.

The second-grader gently pats the 86-kilogram St. Bernard, moving from paw to head to neck, wrapping his arms around the retired championship show animal turned teacher.

Soon, seven-year-old Keegan Martin, shoes off, relaxing on a blanket on the floor with Hercules and his owner Mark Grant, starts reading books about other big dogs and boys and volcanoes, cheerfully moving through his weekly Paws to Read session. It’s a program of Therapeutic Paws of Canada that helps children in grades 2 to 5 who struggle with reading.

The free program provides a comfortable, non-judgmental atmosphere where reading flourishes and friendships form, says Grant, a Paws to Read volunteer at Halifax-area libraries for three years.

That’s the secret of the one-on-one program’s success, adds the volunteer, who leads Saturday sessions at the Spring Garden Road library in Halifax and Wednesday-night classes at the Tantallon branch.

"He’s focused on the dog," Grant says of Keegan, one of seven students he and nine-year-old Herc see on Saturdays. "And that’s the (core of) the program. It’s not about me. It’s not about the library. It’s the bond (between) the child and the dog."

That bond has helped Keegan’s reading skills soar, says Grant who first worked with the child last spring.

"His reading has increased 10 times" from what it was, and that’s also a tribute to his parents, who read with him nightly, Grant says.

"He just needs some extra help with reading, and to read with Herc it’s more of a pleasure," says Keegan’s mom, Patti Martin. "He’s very attentive . . . and Keegan would read to Herc every day."

"I’d never stop reading to Herc because he’s nice and he doesn’t interrupt," the Prospect Road Elementary School student chimes in as the St. Bernard nods off and starts snoring. "I didn’t like it as much, but now I like reading it with Herc."

His interest is obvious as the session unfolds, starting when Grant opens a book about Clifford the Big Red Dog.

"The boy sees the dog," Keegan begins. "Excellent, excellent," encourages Grant. "The dog sees the boy," Keegan continues, leaning on the sleeping pooch and smoothly reading through the book as Grant encourages and prompts when needed.

Then it’s on to a new book about volcanoes, Keegan easily tackling words like "erupted" and "scientist."
"Holy smokes, those are big words for a little guy like you," Grant praises at one point. "Excellent, excellent."
Keegan is keenly interested in the subject, stopping to fill in Grant on his extensive knowledge of volcanoes.
Herc gets up and walks away.
"Look what happened," Grant says. "You stopped reading and your buddy went away. You better go get him and bring him back."
And he does, guiding the large, lumbering animal— "so gentle," says Keegan’s mom — back to the blanket, where he flops down again.

Even though he’s getting on in years, Hercules still gets excited when Grant puts on his Paws to Read vest and gets him ready to go to the sessions, held at about seven local branches.
The library ( http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/) recommends calling your local branch to see whether the program is offered there.

The Bedford man, who has worked with more than 50 children through the program, is enthused too.
"It’s very rewarding for me personally to be able to give back to the community," he says.
"The dog and I, we’ve had a wonderful show career. (Now) we just get so much enjoyment out of helping folks move forward with their reading skills."

Keegan’s mom says her son has moved forward with skills and confidence since starting Paws to Read.
"It’s a great program," she says.
"I don’t know why there’s not more children banging at the door to come in and do this. For one it’s free, it’s short, it’s only a half an hour. Mark’s excellent. . . . He’s super with the kids and it’s such a treat for them. It’s not work; it’s just a pleasure for him to read to Herc."

Keegan is now finished his session. A Hercules pin in hand, which is also ink-stamped with paw prints, he agrees.
"Herc," he says, "is like the best friend in the whole universe."

The Paws to Read program is looking for more volunteers.