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Priceless. That's what I think of the Learning with Lucky ® program.

I piloted the program in my first grade class in 2005-2006. At the end of the year I was certain that I would find a way to have puppies in my room again this year. Not only did Horace Mann and Parker Toyota offer puppies to my class but they put in over 1,200 puppies in first grades in North Idaho!

When we first put puppies into the hands of my first graders, they were thrilled. Silent reading has taken on a whole new meaning. The children had a buddy to read with. Silent reading was a treat -- the kids loved it. As they earned collars and puppy tags for books they read, their confidence in their reading soared. In my room, the children pick out their own books to read. After they had practiced, they read to an adult and earned their token. Kids have learned that they can choose their own books -- and they can read and discuss them.

This year, not only have the children embraced the program but parent volunteers in my room have doubled. Parents come in, go right to the reading folders and engage the kids in reading. Many times the volunteers are talked into listening to more that one book.

We love Learning with Lucky ®!

This program is so easy to implement in the classroom! Although I have to admit that at the beginning of the year, I wasn't sure how I was going to keep all the puppies all year, but it's really worked out! The kids actually keep their desks cleaner so that their puppies weren't squished!

We really like using the puppies as reward incentives for reading at home. Each month that the kids earned a reward they got one that's centered around their puppies. Our ideas that have worked really well are:

Adoption- the kids get to officially adopt their puppies. They get an adoption certificate (that must be filled out by the kids and myself) and they get their picture taken with their puppy. Costco has the cutest paw print picture border to make this look official. The adoption certificates and the pictures went up in the hall where everyone could see them.

Collars- These have ranged from a thick piece of yarn to bracelets from Oriental Traders to home-made fabric collars. The kids love them any way.

Tags- I've found the paper tags with the metal frame work the best and most have lasted all year.

The Traveling Puppy- the kids have earned the privilege to take their puppies to music, library, and even P.E. We checked with the teachers first and they're all very supportive. We've even brought the puppies to school-wide assemblies. The kids have learned that in order for their puppy to be a good listener (and not go to the "dog house" by my desk), then their owners have to be a good listener.

Puppy food- The kids have also earned little cups of "puppy food" AKA Rieses Pieces. This was the easiest reward to do and probably the most popular!

Vet Check- Our school nurse came and gave each puppy a physical. She filled out an "official" form with future care instructions and general statements about the puppy's health. This was actually a two-part reward. The nurse came back a month or two later to "treat" any injuries, such as: stitches with needle and tread, and bandages and gauze wraps for paws and ears.

Puppy cookies- Another more time-consuming reward is sugar cookies. I made puppy shaped and dog bone shaped sugar cookies, one for the student and one for the puppy. I used icing to write the name of the puppy on one cookie, and the name of the student on the other. This was also a big hit and worth the time.

For our final hoorah reward, we are hoping to have the one and only Lucky visit our kids!

First Grade Teachers
Jenny Baldwin, Heather Bagley and Betty Mobbs
John Brown Elementary
Rathdrum, Idaho

My students really love their puppies. They take them out of their kennel each morning and read to them. It is very motivating in that they want to reach each incremental goal. My system has consisted of the following:

Students read 5 books to an adult.
1st: Earn a Certificate of Adoption and get to Name their Puppy!
2nd: Earn a Certificate and get to take their puppy home in a special bag for a sleep-over (1 night only, must be returned the next day - no weekend sleep-overs)
3rd: Earn a Certificate and a collar and name tag for their puppy!
4th: Earn a Certificate and a sleep-over
5th: Earn a Certificate and a book about a Puppy! Please, Puppy, Please
6th: Earn a Certificate and a sleep-over

We are still coming up with more ideas: sunglasses for their puppies from the dollar store, taking their puppies to Library time to listen to a story, ????

I have terrific 1st Grade Readers!

Colleen Peloquin
1st/2nd Combo Class
Spirit Lake Elementary
Lakeland School Dist. 272

This has been a HUGE motivational thing to get my students reading! I'm lucky enough to have a mother in law who sewed very cute blankets . made collars and embroiders puppies names on them as students "earn" these perks for their pups! Thanks so much!!!

Amy B. Wise
Atlas Elementary

Thanks for the opportunity to work together to implement such a fun reading program. It has been so well received. I have attached a newsletter that went home with all first graders at Atlas Elementary. The kids and families have been so excited to read and earn things for their puppies. I hope you are able to open the file, sometimes Publisher isn't compatible if the version is different.

In my class, I have heard such wonderful feedback from parents. I want to thank you again for the opportunity to make reading fun, improve motivation at home, and connect families to schools and with business such as yours.

Sincerely,

Cyndi Fairfield
Teacher, Atlas Elementary



I consider myself "lucky" because I have been able to watch the Learning with Lucky program grow into one of the highlights of being in 1st grade. Thanks to Horace Mann agent Camy Popiel and Jim Parker, owner of Parker Toyota, teacher Cathy Bayes' dream of using this as a reading incentive has taken off and taken flight. This reading incentive has proven to be a major influence in motivating our early readers to keep their noses in a book. I am an elementary school librarian and I can't describe the joy and accomplishment in the faces of these kiddos. They come to me hungry for another book, just so they can "earn" a collar, a tag or a blanket for their "reading buddy".

Thank you for doing this. It is a wonderful program to promote reading and one I believe these kids remember for a very long tim.

Sincerely,
Jennifer La Vigne ;)
Bryan Elementary Librarian

I asked my students today about their feelings about having the puppies and what they thought about it. Here are some of their responses.

* "They help us read more books."
* "They listen and they sit there and kinda help us!"
* "It makes reading "funner" and as you go along, you can get stuff for them."
* "They help you learn how to read more better and show you how to take care of a real puppy (earning all the items).
*They help you have fun at school and be smart."

I know my class loves to read every day! After they read a book and practice with their puppy, they write their name on the board to show me that they are ready to read to someone. Daily, I have a long list of kids ready to read to me or a mom helper. I see my laziest of students diving into book after book. I also see my brightest student helping out others who need help! This is my 18th year of teaching. I have always tried to create a classroom where a love of books and reading is one of the top priorities. I really see my WHOLE class love reading books!

Thanks for all you do!

Ann Rotz
First Grade Teacher
Garwood Elementary, Rathdrum, Idaho

-Sara Butler, Priest Lake Elementary