What is Paws and Learn®?
Paws and Learn®, or PAL for short, is…
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a multi-component online educational intervention to support wellbeing and reading.
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for school and home.
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founded on the concept that when children enjoy reading, they read more often, leading to increased reading confidence and competency. Feelings of improved wellbeing develop concurrently.
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underpinned by the theory of Canine Compathy© (Steel, 2023), where humans and dogs both benefit from time together.
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particularly useful and inclusive for readers with allergies, phobias or hygiene concerns that prohibit direct physical contact with animals.
Paws and Learn® involves…
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reading to a dog online (Call Archie) as the central activity.
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complementary literacy-based activities, with the dog as the catalyst, to consolidate and extend the benefits of reading to the dog.
Note: Reading sessions are not live, and therefore completely secure. The relationship with Archie can be compared to 'imagined' relationships children have with characters in books, film and media. Archie is real, and participants get to know him, but in an indirect and safe way.
(Other potential ways to use PAL:
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Schools with an existing visiting dog programme may adapt PAL to their own needs.
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PAL can be used with children, young people and adults, at any stage of reading development. It may also be useful for readers learning English as a second language.
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In the home, children may use PAL alongside a suitable family pet. See here for guidance.)
Paws and Learn® is founded upon scientific research into animal-assisted education.
See research papers and media.
Dr Jill Steel PhD
An experienced Primary School Teacher, Early Education and Childhood Practice Lecturer, Animal-Assisted Education Researcher, and Animal-Assisted Therapy Volunteer, Jill has applied both practical and academic expertise to the creation of Paws and Learn®. Jill’s passion for supporting children’s wellbeing and learning, a lifelong love of animals, and her professional background have collectively inspired Paws and Learn®.
Jill grew up in South Africa, and lived and worked in the United States, before settling in Scotland where she now resides. Find out more about Jill here.
Archie Steel
Archie is a large Labradoodle (Standard Poodle and Labrador crossbreed) who was rehomed to Jill’s family at the age of 10 months. A boisterous and mischievous lad when out and about, while at home Archie loves nothing more than to recline on the sofa with his human companions. Archie was thus particularly amenable to participating in Jill’s research into online reading to dogs, when he visited schools virtually, from the sofa, for children to read to him. Read more about Archie in 'All About Archie'.
Note:
Archie’s welfare is considered paramount in any contribution he makes to Paws and Learn®. In Jill’s research children were taught that Archie would only participate if he wished to, and that he had freedom to move away at any time. Pictures and videos of Archie on this website have been obtained whilst Archie is engaged in daily activities he chooses to participate in.
