'Reading to Romeo' returns to New Holland-Middletown

[September 30, 2013]  MIDDLETOWN -- Title I reading teacher Diane Bicknell at New Holland-Middletown District 88 uses her pet rabbit, Romeo, to help improve reading scores and promote literacy. Struggling readers sign up for slots to read short stories to Romeo.

Bicknell stands behind her program as "multiple research supports that reading to animals improves fluency, comprehension, confidence and lowers anxiety levels in students that struggle with reading."

"Reading to Romeo" was featured at the 2009 Illinois State Reading Conference in Springfield and was modeled after the "Reading to Dogs" program in Chicago Public Schools. This program is supported each year with a sustaining grant from Pets in the Classroom.

Ms. Bicknell, a member of the Humane Society of Logan County, is thankful to the NH-M administration, parents and the Humane Society for continuing to support this program. NH-M raises money each year for HSLC as one of their top service learning projects.

[Text from file received]