20Dec / 2013

Last Day of School: 2013

The Last Day of 2013 is upon us and the Christmas Holiday Break is here! The students are so excited!! Ok, they are a bit wild and chattery. We are taking them on a field trip to see a movie and then out to lunch. Who would not be excited? I was excited, too, by all the Christmas cheer in the air.
I wore one of my special outfits for the holiday. I am a diva and a princess who loves pink, so my accessory of the day was pink of course. I think it looks great against my fur. What do you think?

Miss Stephanie took this beautiful picture and then she gave me my very own Christmas present. I was so thankful!!!

Mom received a special present, too. Mrs. Ames searched for a nifty cookbook to help Mom keep her upcoming New Year’s resolution.

Then it was time for hugs.

We wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We will see our students in 2014! What a great ending to a super year! We love our Noe Middle staff and students!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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18Dec / 2013

Science Lab

We had a wonderful time in Mrs. Ames Science class yesterday! We are studying about the earth and one of the properties we investigated was “density”. Our students were so good during our lab investigation! They had a tub of water, a vial and twenty five pennies. They had to float the vial, suspend the vial and sink the vial and then compare the information in terms of density of water. It is pretty involved, right? The kids did a super job and did some excellent thinking. Then Mrs. Ames did a demonstration on Nutrasweet and sugar showing that the same amount of sweetener could have different densities. She showed the different amounts of sweeteners that sweetened soft drinks in zip lock bags, but made them equally sweet, and then showed that the one with sugar was denser because it had more mass. Mom also learner that the chemical components of Nutrasweet are the same as formaldehyde – just in a different order. Guess what she is not drinking any more!

The kids really needed me during this lesson. There was a lot of movement and unstructured time while working and time to pat me. I got lots of pats because the students found this lesson and the follow questions hard and they got frustrated at times. Mom and Mrs. Ames guided them and gave them hints but would not tell them answers. The kids needed me more than ever and it was a good day to be there for them. At the end of the day, both classes had their best days ever and were very proud!! And that is a snapshot of our science lab day!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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16Dec / 2013

Holiday Dog Shaming!!

Is Mom into “dog shaming”? Does she not realize that I am a Diva Dog, a proud Newfoundland, and a working service dog? I know that some therapy dogs dress up, but really, Mom, not me!!! I cannot imagine what the kids will say when they see me if you actually put these on me and we go to school.,.

I know it is the right season, but couldn’t I have a cute pink Santa hat with the my title, “Princess”, on it? Or I could just wear my Diva crown. I like that!!

Oh, Mom! Please, don’t shame me with the reindeer gear!!!
Dear readers, please comment to help sway Mom! Get me out of this! I at least need a “Princess” Santa hat instead!!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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13Dec / 2013

Special Visit

Yesterday was a very exciting day! First we went to Noe Middle School to volunteer. The students were so happy to see us after a long break and several snow days! They really needed us too since they were stressed by a science test over Newton’s first three laws. After our classes, we hurried to the car and drove across town. I had not been to this place before. But Mom knew the way. She told me that we were going to visit her daughter and the first Grandchild. I felt honored because I had not been allowed near the first Grandchild when he came to our house. I was fascinated by him. Most babies like me and this one was extra special to Mom so I wanted to get to know him.
We parked and knocked on the door. Adri, Mom’s daughter answered, holding the First Grandchild. He looked ready to go to Texas in his A&M outfit!

He was sucking on a lemon to help his cold. When he saw me, he clapped his hands and reached for me. Mom told Adri, ” He likes dogs and wants to pat Bella”. Adri said, “What will Bella do?”. I wanted to giggle. Mom explained to Adri that I would let the First Grandchild pat me and would be very calm no matter what he did. Finally the First Grandchild got to pat me! We were both so happy!! He clapped his hands again and again and smiled his big smile! Stephen, his dad, smiled when he saw the First Grandchild patting me. It was a Very Special Visit!!

Woofs and Wags,
Bella

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07Dec / 2013

Naughty or Nice, Oh My!

The Naughty or Nice List is coming out soon! Oh, my! Santa is up to his ears collecting information and we are a little worried. Which list will we be on?

I have not tampered with the computer.

Nor eaten large and expensive objects.

I have not given children bad dreams by playing with their toys in my own way.

And I did not do this…

I do not think I should be on the Naughty List!!
Dear Santa, please consider that I have worked over three hundred and fifty hours volunteering in the classroom with my kids this year as a therapy dog. And I still help Mom as a service dog. I even won an award for all my work this year. Santa, won’t you puhleeze put me on the Nice List? I have been a good girl this year!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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04Dec / 2013

Mutual Admiration Society

Yesterday was a great day at Noe Middle School. Everyone wanted to show the visiting fifth graders and their parents what a wonderful school we have. Tours peeked in at our social studies classes several times. I also saw them when I was making my rounds in the hallways.
It was also a day when Mom captured a few pictures of one of the kindest students on our team. She is always willing to partner with anyone and help them do their work. She is always willing to share a pencil or paper if she has extra. And she is quick to hand things out or pick up materials without being asked. And do you know what reward she likes best? Patting me!! So we are including a few pictures of our friend, Hailey, here!

That was a sneaky shot! LOL

Mom caught her happy smile!

This is Mom’s favorite. It shows both of us intent on each other: a mutual admiration society. And this is a very important part of my job – being there as a positive reinforcer for students who are doing the right thing and need a bit of stress release. Hope you enjoyed a peek inside my classroom.

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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26Oct / 2013

Working It Out

A minor miracle occurred this week! While Mom and I were volunteering doing our usual Animal Assisted Therapy in our science class, two students could not agree who would be the group leader and could not agree on which path to take for a group project. The other students in the group were passive bystanders.
I was in a down nearby listening to the students discussion when suddenly the students decided to come and talk to me!

They both greeted me and agreed that they would take turns telling me who should be leader and why. Each student spoke and the other listened intently. I listened. Then both boys began to pat me.

After a few moments of patting and silence, one boy said, “You can be leader but I think my idea is still better”. The other student agreed. Compromise achieved – with AAT! A minor miracle of working through it!
Just a little snapshot into our world!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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25Oct / 2013

Dog Tired

It was a wild day with many unexpected moments. We went to Mrs. A’s class knowing that she was going to be out sick and had requested a substitute. Mrs. A’s plans lay neatly on the desk and Mom read through them as she waited to greet the substitute. The first bell rang and students flowed through the doorway and sat at their assigned seats. The advanced placement class could be counted on to follow class rules without being told. Mom and I moved to the doorway expecting to see a substitute in the hallway. None was visible – just a sea of students. Mom decided that action was in order. She phoned Ms. C, an administrator. Twenty minutes later, a substitute arrived. Meanwhile, Mom and I started the class by taking role, explaining the task, and handing out the assignment. Then we left to visit our regularly scheduled classes. We returned to work with the substitute later in the day. This was our “challenging” class. Several students decided that they would not sit in assigned seats. Others brought no materials. Two were determined to do no work for a substitute and chose a route of disruption. A third decided that he could leave without permission. Mom and I had a very busy time working to decrease these issues and to manage the classroom. But we provided the substitute the support he needed, and the students did complete work.
When Mom and I went home we felt like this:

We were dog tired! But we love our kids and will do it all over again!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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23Oct / 2013

The Visitor

Volunteering and doing Animal Assisted Therapy has great rewards. I get lots of attention, LOL, and we help students in the classroom succeed academically, behaviorally, and socially. Usually we see a small turnaround in just one session but yesterday with a visitor we saw an amazing result!
This student was brought to “our” classroom for timeout since there are only six students, two teachers, Mom and me. He was quite upset and had been acting out, disrupting the classroom and refusing to work. Our teacher assigned him a seat and instructed him to begin his work. He sat, silent, and unmoving.
Mom gave him four minutes and then we approached him. She asked him if he had ever seen a dog like me. He shook his head. “Her name is Bella and she would like a couple of pats from you.”. I stretched my nose out towards the young man and he carefully touched the fur on my head. “It’s soft,” he whispered. After two minutes, Mom said, “Bella would like you to try your work now. Would you please take out your pencil?”. The pencil appeared and the young man started to work. “Let Bella stay here please so I can pat her”. Mom smiled and said, “Of course”. I relaxed into a down knowing that my job was to continue keeping this young man on track!
Guess what! He completed all his work, accepted feedback and made corrections without any issues and was able to return to class! He processed his behavior with the teacher. We made a new friend! Isn’t AAT an awesome classroom tool?

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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18Oct / 2013

Success!!

Today was a huge success! We have been volunteering in a very challenging class doing Animal Assisted Therapy (working 1-1 with some specific students to meet goals) and had not made much progress. Suddenly everything seemed to click for the students. They acted like angels. Each one decided to try his/ her hardest to do his/her work and and request help. Each student actively sought me out when frustrated and patted me and then talked things out with Mom. Each student got his/ her work completed for the very first time and it was 100% correct! This is an example of what it can look like when I help.

Boy, was it exhausting! This says it all:

And when Mom and I got home, she wanted her recliner, and I had to join her…
We have to share our celebration and our exhaustion and the recliner, right?

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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Bella, My BFF

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