AS a dog lover and a fan of reading, one story this week combined the two and literally warmed my heart.
A Co Down primary school has enlisted the help of a lovable golden Labrador in a bid to assist their young pupils. Angel (even her name is heart-warming) visits Abbey Primary School in Newtownards once a week to listen to the children reading aloud.
It's all aimed at helping shy readers and those children who are finding reading a bit of a struggle - right through from the youngest in P1 to the oldest in the school.
The project was the idea of teacher Susan Nelson, who thought it was a novel way of assisting pupils and reducing the fear of reading aloud in front of others.
She said "anything we can do that will improve children's literacy and their enjoyment of reading is something we want to pursue".
You see, dogs won't judge us for any mistakes we make, which may just give a child that little push in the right direction.
Children were chosen for a variety of reasons - those who were finding reading difficult, those who lacked confidence reading within a group or aloud and those who need assistance in reading with expression.
Within weeks of the project being launched, teachers, parents and children noticed results - the report back found that kids were reading with much more confidence and developing their self-esteem to much higher levels.
Abbey Primary School are not the only ones to launch their bid to help child readers. I also read about a little barber shop in Michigan which sees kids come through the door, pick up a book and head to the chair to get their hair cut.
Children get a $2 discount on their haircut for doing a simple task - reading to the barber. The hairdresser at the Fuller Cut barbershop said he believes it gives the kids more confidence in reading.
Reading out in front of others can be a terrifying prospect for some children - and adults too.
The fear that you're going to trip over your words, not recognise that tricky word or indeed, that others will snigger at your pronunciation of something, is something that used to turn my stomach as a child.
I remember with dread those awkward years at school - when my hands would tremble and my voice would shake, that fear of my name being called out to talk in front of the class, or even worse to read at morning assembly.
We all have that anticipation that we will make a fool of ourselves in front of others, that panic we are being 'looked at' rather than 'listened to' and ultimately that fear that we're not good enough.
As parents, we want to help our children to become more confident giving presentations and participating in debates at school, but for some it just doesn't come naturally.
And there's that fear that the more you push a child to read aloud, the more they will clam up and refuse, too frightened to talk or and too self-conscious to relax and join in.
It can also lead to a child being ignored by their peers or overlooked because they're not the one that stands up or stands out in the crowd. What is even worse is, if this fear is allowed to persist, it can remain into adulthood.
While all schools or hairdressers cannot bring in dogs or discounts to help the young, isn't it wonderful that some are trying new novelty ways to encourage children to read out loud and gain more confidence.
Children are like little sponges, they soak up every last thing and if something like the techniques used by Abbey Primary and the Fuller Cut barbershop can help, then maybe it's the way forward.
Reading and having the confidence to read aloud is the gateway to learning, it opens doors to new adventures and possibilities and if we can encourage that in the young, then there will be promising futures ahead.
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Competition
How do you fancy winning tickets to attend the Northern Ireland premiere of the new movie, Sing?
Sing is an Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures animated musical comedy about finding the star that lives inside all of us. Set in a world like ours but entirely inhabited by animals, Sing stars Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey), a dapper Koala who has one final chance to restore his theatre to its former glory by producing the world’s greatest singing competition.
Five lead contestants emerge including an overtaxed mother pig (Reese Witherspoon) and a young gangster gorilla (Taron Egerton). Each believes that this is their shot to change their life. With a soundtrack of over 85 songs, there’s music for everyone to enjoy.
The film opens in cinemas on January 27 and tickets are available via singmovie.co.uk
The Irish News is giving away a family pass (two adults and two children) to see Sing on January 15 at Belfast's Odeon cinema. You will receive a family pass to enjoy a Sing-themed reception at 1.15pm before the movie at 2pm. To be in with a chance to win, simply email your name, address and telephone number - along with the answer to the question below - to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday January 10 at noon.
(Q) Which actor provides the voice for Buster Moon in the movie Sing?
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
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What's Hot!
Help with nutrition - With the New Year comes exercise and clean eating for many people. If an expensive gym membership is not an option, Lidl have an incredible range of performance wear, workout equipment and cooking appliances including the Silvercrest Nutrition Mixer for £29.99, which is perfect for a post-Christmas cleanse or if you want to get in your daily allowance of fruit and vegetables.
Hop on board - Downpatrick and Co Down Railway is offering something a little bit different to keep the holiday blues away with a special new year event tomorrow. Hop onboard the 'Baby GM' 141 class locomotive No 146, a Yankee engine built by General Motors in Illinois in 1962. Doors open at the railway line at 2pm with tickets available on the day or book online at www.downrail.co.uk
What's Not!
Keep away from the pool - EastEnders star Samantha Womack sparked a Twitter frenzy after she tweeted about enjoying a swim, just hours after her character Ronnie Mitchell drowned onscreen. Fans were left heartbroken when her character died in the shock exit with sister Roxy on Sunday night's episode and Womack's choice of leisure activity on Monday morning did not go down well.
Horrible experience - Mariah Carey has admitted she was 'mortified' by her disastrous New Year's Eve show in Times Square. The pop star initially attempted to shrug off the performance, after suffering mishaps in front of millions of fans. But she has now described the experience - in which she ended up telling the audience to sing instead of her - as 'horrible'.
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Competition winners
The winners of last week's competition to win a copy of The Last Night are Mary Devine from Belfast, Connie McKay from Carnlough and Geraldine Mullin fron Dungannon.
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Easy Peasy Recipe
This week's Easy Peasy Recipe is tomato and roasted garlic soup with rosemary and orange, courtesy of Lidl chef ambassador Paul Flynn.
You will need:
2 tins of chopped tomatoes (2x 400g)
2 cloves of garlic (14g) peeled and thinly sliced
I tbsp honey (12g)
Half tsp paprika
Juice of half an orange
Half a chicken stock cube
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
Salt and pepper
To make:
Cook the garlic very gently over a low heat until lightly golden.
Add the tomatoes and chicken stock cube and bring to a simmer.
While the temperature raises, add the paprika, honey, orange and rosemary and cook gently for 10 minutes.
Remove the rosemary and season.
Let it cool and add to Lidl Nutrition Mixer and blend.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:Easy Peasy Recipes,
Suzanne McGonagle,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
s.mcgonagle@irishnews.com
