Pets and classrooms might not seem like the perfect pair, but a dedicated group of teachers at Bessemer Middle School is proving that pet therapy can change that and make a difference in some students’ behavior.Bodie, a golden retriever who the kids have met before, recently returned for another visit, and this time, “Little Lilly” joined him.”Having the dogs here was really fun because I never thought in a million years I would have had a dog in my classroom,” said sixth-grader Jeremiah FreemanGetting to participate in this new program is all about good behavior. “We usually try to do this once a month on a Friday, at the end of the month,” explained Yuvraj Verma, a sixth-grade math teacher. “So, that way students have an incentive of something that they could look forward to before the month ends.”Verma and his colleagues are using this different approach to help boost their students’ social and emotional well-being.”Socialization skills are, you know, essential when you’re in the sixth grade, and this is a great initiative to actually teach them, you know, certain skills to be successful,” said Verma. “When I was giving the students the consent forms, I was asking them, who’s ever had a dog, who’s ever played with the dog? Who’s ever been to just general therapy? Because that kind of got us into the conversation of mental health as a whole. It wasn’t just focusing on, you know, just being with pets.”Verma secured a grant from the nonprofit “Pet Partners” to fund the program for up to 100 students throughout the school year. Since its launch in September, the teachers agree the impact has been remarkable.”We’ve noticed students who may not interact with one another have interacted,” said Verma. “We have a lot of ELL students, meaning they don’t speak English as their first language, so a lot of times they may not feel as are able to communicate, but when you’re petting a dog, and everyone’s just smiling and happy, that’s a natural language that everyone knows.”Farrah Cureton, a sixth-grade teacher, shared her personal experience with the program.”So the first moment they came in, I think you could, like, hear a pin drop. I was a little apprehensive. I want to be a dog lover, but I’m a little afraid. But after meeting Bodie, he was awesome. And I actually purchased a dog after the first pet therapy,” Cureton said.Students like Kaleah Mayes and Malaysia White are already looking forward to the next visit.”It is very exciting to see our classmates happy and just getting to know the dog better,” said Mayes.”I hope Lillie and Bodie come back,” said White.By exposing students to something new and creating a safe, positive space, the teachers hope this provides an outlet for students who may have experienced trauma and that the lessons learned through pet therapy will stay with their students for years to come.
Pets and classrooms might not seem like the perfect pair, but a dedicated group of teachers at Bessemer Middle School is proving that pet therapy can change that and make a difference in some students’ behavior.
Bodie, a golden retriever who the kids have met before, recently returned for another visit, and this time, “Little Lilly” joined him.
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“Having the dogs here was really fun because I never thought in a million years I would have had a dog in my classroom,” said sixth-grader Jeremiah Freeman
Getting to participate in this new program is all about good behavior.
“We usually try to do this once a month on a Friday, at the end of the month,” explained Yuvraj Verma, a sixth-grade math teacher. “So, that way students have an incentive of something that they could look forward to before the month ends.”
Verma and his colleagues are using this different approach to help boost their students’ social and emotional well-being.
“Socialization skills are, you know, essential when you’re in the sixth grade, and this is a great initiative to actually teach them, you know, certain skills to be successful,” said Verma. “When I was giving the students the consent forms, I was asking them, who’s ever had a dog, who’s ever played with the dog? Who’s ever been to just general therapy? Because that kind of got us into the conversation of mental health as a whole. It wasn’t just focusing on, you know, just being with pets.”
Verma secured a grant from the nonprofit “Pet Partners” to fund the program for up to 100 students throughout the school year. Since its launch in September, the teachers agree the impact has been remarkable.
“We’ve noticed students who may not interact with one another have interacted,” said Verma. “We have a lot of ELL students, meaning they don’t speak English as their first language, so a lot of times they may not feel as are able to communicate, but when you’re petting a dog, and everyone’s just smiling and happy, that’s a natural language that everyone knows.”
Farrah Cureton, a sixth-grade teacher, shared her personal experience with the program.
“So the first moment they came in, I think you could, like, hear a pin drop. I was a little apprehensive. I want to be a dog lover, but I’m a little afraid. But after meeting Bodie, he was awesome. And I actually purchased a dog after the first pet therapy,” Cureton said.
Students like Kaleah Mayes and Malaysia White are already looking forward to the next visit.
“It is very exciting to see our classmates happy and just getting to know the dog better,” said Mayes.
“I hope Lillie and Bodie come back,” said White.
By exposing students to something new and creating a safe, positive space, the teachers hope this provides an outlet for students who may have experienced trauma and that the lessons learned through pet therapy will stay with their students for years to come.
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