New teaching method is going to the dogs

Politicians are seen with their loyal pets just as often as they are photographed with adorable babies. This is not a coincidence, according to Harris Sokoloff, director of the Center for School Study Councils at the University's Graduate School of Education. Research shows that people, from politicians to criminals, are viewed more positively when seen with animals, said Sokoloff. Sokoloff is the director of Pets & Me: A Thematic Learning Experience Built on the Relationship Between People and Animals, a thematic unit that uses the natural affinity of people, especially kids, towards animals as a way to get them more involved with the traditional skills and contents of their education. Pets & Me combines academic subjects such as reading, writing, basic math, science, social studies and social interaction with children's desire to learn about animals, Sokoloff said. "Designed for children of pre-school and elementary school age, the unit can be used anywhere from one to six weeks, and it can be used by itself or in conjunction with the normal curriculum," he added. Sokoloff, professors from LaSalle and Purdue universities, and six public school teachers contributed to this public school-university collaboration. "We wanted to create curriculum materials that teachers could use in a flexible way," said co-author Carole Freeman, a former University graduate student. "We wanted to use what we know about children's education and the human-animal bond and bring these two perspectives together." Pets & Me was tested in inner-city schools in Chicago and Nashville, schools in the suburbs outside Philadelphia and Dallas, and in Connecticut. Dolly Ketterer, an elementary school teacher at Merion Elementary School outside of Philadelphia, tested Pets & Me in her fourth grade class. She said that she felt the project was successful because the children were able to make a connection between their academic work and animals, something to which they are naturally drawn. "The children could discuss things with more depth because they had firsthand experience with animals," Ketterer said. "It gave them a chance to use and analyze information at a higher level." Sokoloff said that teacher comments have been very positive. In Dallas, teachers said children got involved quickly with the academic aspects of their education as they learned about animals. In Chicago, teachers found that children became noticeably more calm as they learned not only about animals but about the language arts, math and science. Pets & Me was funded by a grant from the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association. Work on Pets & Me began two and a half years ago and was published in August. Currently, 25 schools nationwide are incorporating Pets & Me into their curriculum.