Each year, many children — particularly those from low-income backgrounds — lose as much as three months of reading skills during the summer. Known as the “summer slide,” this learning loss is cumulative and can leave some children up to three years behind their peers by the end of fifth grade. In Arkansas, educators - Read more
Humane Leadership Award at NSALA Annual Gala
This year, we presented The Humane Leadership Awards to both Michael Tountasakis, principal of Harris Middle School in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, and Ailene Mitchell, principal of MS 88 Peter Rouget School in Brooklyn, New York. During the last academic year, these two educators collaborated —bridging an almost 700-mile distance — to have their - Read more
Meet Ruby: A Rare Gem in North Carolina
Give a warm welcome to Ruby! An adorable 4-month old Mutt-i-gree, Ruby has a love for kids and an eagerness to work hard. She has made a big splash at the Harris Middle School in North Carolina. Every morning, Ruby greets the students and each afternoon, helps to dismiss students who wear a big grin - Read more
Mutt-i-grees Curriculum & Purina: Changing Lives in St. Louis
Purina proudly calls St. Louis, Missouri home, and takes supporting their communities very seriously. Since many St. Louis youth face academic challenges tied to poverty, Purina set out to find a program to reach at-risk kids that linked social and emotional learning with their core mission of providing supplies to people - Read more
Teaching Empathy and Compassion in Afterschool Programs
When you think of a Mutt-i-gree, an adorable rescue dog or cat probably comes to mind. But have you ever considered that a stuffed animal could be an adequate substitute for teaching empathy and compassion?While increasing numbers of schools are adopting school dogs as part of the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum, one school district is making a - Read more
Celebrate Read Across America Day on March 2
For loving and fun, all kids will agree, There’s nothing as sweet as a sweet Mutt-i-gree! A canine? A feline? Don’t bother to fuss — They all need what we need — they’re really like us! Clearly these lines are not up to Dr. Seuss’s imaginative standards, but chances are the man who wrote - Read more
Watch Mutt-i-grees® in Action
Watch and see the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum in Action.
This Pup Is Hungry for Reading!
The clever children’s librarians at the West Haven Public Library, in Connecticit, decided that Fido needs feeding, and the best way to do it is with a bit of juicy reading. The Children’s Librarian came up with the idea to paint a super-size dog face on a cardboard box — about half the size - Read more
Librarian helps Mutt-i-grees in her Community
“There are great lesson plan ideas and I feel that it teaches children important lessons in life!” Each week, Lorie H., Children’s Program Coordinator for the Herr Memorial Library in Mifflinburg, PA teaches a program called Discover, in which the library offers classes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers up to age five. - Read more
Mutt-i-grees in the Summer
“It makes me proud knowing that we are just one more establishment promoting shelter animal awareness. Mutt-i-grees has also allowed us to create bonds with various organizations throughout the township.” Lauren Longbottom has been the children’s librarian at Ridley Township Public Library for six years and is also a volunteer for - Read more
