A new breed of educator is trying to teach kids in the Big Apple that their paws can be used for anything.
The Department for Education's Comfort Dog Program is being rolled out in around 50 schools across the five boroughs, with young pupils benefiting from increased confidence and improved performance.
This adorable initiative to bring trained therapy dogs into classrooms began as a pilot program in just seven schools in 2016 and has now helped hundreds of students navigate life in the classroom and beyond. I'm doing it.
The program has been directed by Kirsten Kinsella, a dog trainer and DOE educator since 2007, who works with about 6,000 children to help struggling children address their academic and emotional needs. He explained that he provides targeted and individualized lesson plans over the course of the week.
But to really see the “magic”, Kinsella invited the Post to a classroom at PS 70 in the Bronx to witness it in action.
A group of five Bronx University students quietly shuffled into the classroom and took their seats. The cost of the lesson was written on their faces.
But when Kinsella brought in Chip, a Shih Tzu and cross poodle, her depressed face quickly turned into a smile.
“Who's nervous? Chip's nervous too. See how he shakes it off, let's shake it off with him,” Kinsella said.
The results were immediate, as the students began shaking and imitating Chip, then bursting into laughter.
Kinsella said the first step is to shift attention away from the students and onto the chips.
“This can really open up and motivate children and remove any fear or anxiety they may have when working with groups of children or adults,” she explains. did.
Next, guided tricks.
“Tip, roll, roll,” 10-year-old Augustina said as she carefully helped the dog.
Chipping was a struggle at first, but it soon became second nature.
“If Chip can make a mistake and do better next time, I know I can too,” Augustina told the group with a confident smile.
Kinsella said working with Chip allows students to connect with their emotions because “he can pick up on how they're feeling.”
Chip then started a group discussion using two colored dice with questions taped to each side.
“How did Chip help you?” Kinsella asked, reading the dice thrown from Chip's nose.
10-year-old Liam said, “Coming to school can be really tiring, but spending time with Chip helps me stay motivated throughout the week.''
For students who lack self-confidence, tipping can also help them overcome feelings of inadequacy and shame.
“So it's not the kid who's nervous, it's Chip who's nervous. Or if the kid can't recognize letters or math solutions, Chip won't either. will help you figure it out,” Kinsella said.
Chip is one of dozens of dogs rotated through the Comfort Dog Program, which costs participating schools $1,000 a year from their school budgets.
He is also a member of Kinsella, who enlists four other furry family members as volunteers.
To participate, a handler, usually an educator, must enroll their dog in a six-hour training session run by the Good Dog Foundation.
Dogs must also prove that they are docile, non-aggressive, and insensitive to school-specific distractions (PA systems, bells, fire alarms, etc.).
Ms Kinsella said lessons were limited to 180 minutes per day as it was “hard work” for the dogs.
Yoga and breathing exercises are also part of Chip's repertoire.
“I remember crying during a test in fourth grade, but being with Chip made me feel more confident, happy, and calm,” Ben said after a deep breathing exercise. 10 years old) said.
In a citywide harrowing student survey conducted in September of 355,105 K-12 students, 51% said they were often harassed, bullied or threatened by classmates. It turned out that.
Aurora, a young PS 70 student, bravely shared that she was a victim of bullying and that it made her “angry and sad.”
The 8-year-old said she took classes specifically designed to learn how to “self-regulate” her thoughts, emotions and impulses.
Comfort dog programs can also be applied to improve math and literacy skills.
Kinsella says instead of asking questions that prompt an emotional response, you can tape math or reading comprehension questions to the dice.
Data collected by the Department of Energy on the program's success is not publicly available and is used for “internal tracking,” a department spokesperson said.
But as long as the program exists, he says, he is “confident” that urban kids will have the tools to survive in this predatory world.
