Ridgeway Elementary School Interventionists Kimberly Costagliola, Danielle Fredo, Alex Hudson, and Shannon Kenny recently hosted a joyful family literacy event titled “Fetch A Good Book.” Open to all Title I Basic Skills students and their families, the evening supported the school’s parental engagement initiative by celebrating the power of reading together.
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The event focused on the importance of read-alouds, which play a key role in early literacy development. When families read aloud with their children, they build background knowledge, strengthen vocabulary, hear fluent reading modeled, and help foster a lifelong love of books, all while creating meaningful shared moments.
Adding to the excitement, three service dogs, Emmett, Sully, and Cooper, joined as special reading buddies. Each student received a dog-themed book to take home and “read” to the dogs, a stuffed pet they could officially “adopt,” and materials to create a personalized collar for their new companion. Students also received adoption certificates and enjoyed making dog-themed ice cream “pup-cup” sundaes to complete the celebration.
Partnerships with the Manchester Library made Emmett and Sully’s attendance possible, while Cooper joined through Caregiver Canines. The event was made possible through Title I funding, ensuring that all participating families could enjoy a memorable and enriching literacy experience.
