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PITTSBURG —
Good behavior paid off for Becky Cleland’s second-grade class at Haderlein Elementary.
The class earned the opportunity to have a special guest attend Tuesday morning and students were joined by Charlie, Cleland's cocker spaniel, who came to listen to them practice their vocabulary words and reading.
"My class worked really hard on good behavior," Cleland said.
She said each time a member of the class receives notice for good behavior they put a marble in a good-sized peanut butter jar, and they now have filled the jar eight times this school year.
Students previously have enjoyed brownies and root beer floats, but this time they requested a visit from Charlie, which turned into a special day with special curriculum.
“The kids just see pictures of the dog and I,” Cleland said about the request. “He is my family.”
When the suggestion was made, Cleland said they had to check with the principal and to verify that no one in the class was afraid of dogs, but Charlie’s visit ultimately was approved.
In honor of the visit and Monday’s holiday, the class read a book entitled, “The President’s Puppy,” about President Abraham Lincoln and his dog, Fido, and they discussed vocabulary words from the book.
Students in the class stroked Charlie’s fur and enjoyed his kisses as they practiced vocabulary words such as Fido, bundle, strolled, patiently, fetching, carefree, cannons and celebrating.
Cleland helped students learn several of the words in the context of Charlie, such as carefree.
“Can you tell that I care for Charlie?” she asked. “How do I show him?”
The students then discussed the meaning of carefree in relation to care.
The word celebrating also was considered.
“In a way, you’re sort of celebrating today, aren’t you?” Cleland asked. “You’re having your marble party.”
The 22 students present read the book in unison to Charlie, who basked in the attention.
Charlie is a former rescue dog, and Cleland said she got him from a kennel in Lamar, Mo.
“She asked me if I would take him. I was more than happy to,” Cleland said.
She said Charlie will come visit her classroom with her sometimes during the summer, but that this is his first visit to a classroom full of students.
She said Charlie had done well with his visit.
“He loves people,” Cleland said.
Good behavior paid off for Becky Cleland’s second-grade class at Haderlein Elementary.
The class earned the opportunity to have a special guest attend Tuesday morning and students were joined by Charlie, Cleland's cocker spaniel, who came to listen to them practice their vocabulary words and reading.
"My class worked really hard on good behavior," Cleland said.
She said each time a member of the class receives notice for good behavior they put a marble in a good-sized peanut butter jar, and they now have filled the jar eight times this school year.
Students previously have enjoyed brownies and root beer floats, but this time they requested a visit from Charlie, which turned into a special day with special curriculum.
“The kids just see pictures of the dog and I,” Cleland said about the request. “He is my family.”
When the suggestion was made, Cleland said they had to check with the principal and to verify that no one in the class was afraid of dogs, but Charlie’s visit ultimately was approved.
In honor of the visit and Monday’s holiday, the class read a book entitled, “The President’s Puppy,” about President Abraham Lincoln and his dog, Fido, and they discussed vocabulary words from the book.
Students in the class stroked Charlie’s fur and enjoyed his kisses as they practiced vocabulary words such as Fido, bundle, strolled, patiently, fetching, carefree, cannons and celebrating.
Cleland helped students learn several of the words in the context of Charlie, such as carefree.
“Can you tell that I care for Charlie?” she asked. “How do I show him?”
The students then discussed the meaning of carefree in relation to care.
The word celebrating also was considered.
“In a way, you’re sort of celebrating today, aren’t you?” Cleland asked. “You’re having your marble party.”
The 22 students present read the book in unison to Charlie, who basked in the attention.
Charlie is a former rescue dog, and Cleland said she got him from a kennel in Lamar, Mo.
“She asked me if I would take him. I was more than happy to,” Cleland said.
She said Charlie will come visit her classroom with her sometimes during the summer, but that this is his first visit to a classroom full of students.
She said Charlie had done well with his visit.
“He loves people,” Cleland said.
