From Struggle to Success: How Dogs Helped Rewrite a Story
There are many memorable students who have experienced the power of The Calais Method, but there is one story in particular we know we will never forget. If you met 2021 Johnny and Johnny today, you wouldn’t believe you were meeting the same person. That’s because, over the course of three years, Johnny experienced a remarkable transformation.
Key to that transformation? Therapy Dogs.
Johnny came to The Calais School near the end of the school year in June 2021. And while the bold streaks of color in his hair implied an outgoing personality, he was anything but.
Leaving the comfort of the public school he had known only to join a new school at the very end of the year would cause trepidation and anxiety for any student. But Johnny faced some additional challenges with his transfer. As he was entering the final days of his fifth-grade year, he was only reading at a kindergarten level.
During his first few months a Calais, our new student was quiet and kept to himself. That is until he me Star and Zanya.
“He is truly a completely different kid, in the best way possible.” Tiffany, Calais-Certified Dog Handler
Star is a regal-looking black Labrador Retriever with dark, soulful eyes and a calm, gentle spirit. It is those personality traits that helped make Johnny more comfortable in his reading sessions. When he first started working with his reading specialist, he attended sessions begrudgingly. Using reading programs like Orton-Gillingham and Read 180, and with the help of Star, our fifth grader focused on activities that made reading fun and engaging.
With Star as his supportive and comforting reading session partner, he never had to worry about feeling judged or ridiculed for struggling to read a sentence or mispronouncing a word. He gained the confidence he needed to combat his delay in reading and ultimately excel.
Zanya is his canine buddy for counseling sessions. A smart, determined German Shepherd, Zanya has a special talent for knowing what a student needs when they need it - whether it be a quiet companion to sit with and pet, or a playmate to help cheer him up. With Zanya by his side, Johnny has become more open and honest in sessions, seeking advice on how to handle difficult situations at home or school. When Zanya is there, the student’s counselor notices that he is more talkative and light-hearted, crediting the special bond between the two of them.
Since coming to The Calais School and experiencing the benefits of The Calais Method firsthand, Johnny has made a phenomenal progress. He no longer wears the metaphorical suit of armor that protected him from the judgement of others and kept him closed off from new opportunities. His teachers and support staff share that his personality has blossomed, he has made many new friends, and he now enjoys the social life every middle school student deserves.
And quite possibly even more miraculous, this extraordinary student has caught up academically. His reading abilities are flourishing. He is reading at a grade-appropriate level, opening a new world of learning and growth for him both academically and personally.
“He does not hold back or refrain from himself when he is with his Calais-Certified therapy dog/handler team.” Lisa, Calais Counselor
His progress would be too good to be true, if we hadn’t see it for ourselves. It’s a true statement to the power of The Calais Method, and the difference it made for Johnny can empower students everywhere.
