If you are a parent, teacher, or school administrator who is wondering how to improve both well-being and education for children, this book is for you. It is also for therapy dog teams looking for novel ideas on how to incorporate their therapy dogs in the classroom. We are inviting you to read it to see what can be achieved in the classroom when therapy dog teams and teachers work collaboratively and creatively. We explain the nature of this unique collaboration in detail, provide evidence of its benefits, and include lesson plans in the area of language arts, math, and beyond that incorporate therapy dogs and can be implemented immediately in teaching to increase children’s engagement, lower anxiety, improve social and emotional skills, help in writing, math, and more. Please visit my website https://barbaravokatis.com to remain in touch with me and see my full list of books.

Hear what others have to say about the book:

“Teachers and Therapy Dog Teams” is an insightful and comprehensive guide that explores the integration of therapy dogs in educational settings. Dr. Vokatis and Mrs. Ormiston skillfully examine the positive impact that therapy dogs have on students’ emotional well-being, academic performance, and overall classroom dynamics. By drawing on research studies, and personal anecdotes the book offers a compelling case for the inclusion of therapy dogs as valuable educational resources. One of the book’s strengths is its emphasis on the diverse ways therapy dogs can enhance the learning environment. The authors’ passion for the topic shines through, as they skillfully balance scientific research with practical anecdotes and insights.

– Cara Zelas, Educator & Founder of Big World of Little Dude

Dr. Barb Vokatis is a passionate educator who found a way to innovate in the classroom with her Therapy Dog Carmel. She generously shares her story and lesson plans for Animal Assisted Education in this collaboration with Lucinda, a teacher she’s partnered with closely in this work. One of the needs I hear over and over again when talking with professionals partnering in Animal Assisted Therapy is ideas for interventions. This book meets those needs for those in educational environments and I look forward to seeing how this evolves as more instructors implement these into their work and continue to build on top of these ideas.

– Sherrie Rohde, Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist and Host of Therapy Dog Talk