Teacher’s idea for 2nd-grade writing assignment helps 22 dogs get adopted from shelter
Shelter dogs sometimes have a hard time getting adopted.
A few can take years before they even have a forever home.
For some, they may no longer have the chance to find one.
Sometimes they need our help.
However, a 2nd Grade Teacher at St. Micheal’s Episcopal School in Richmond Virginia thought of something innovative to give these shelter dogs a higher chance of getting adopted.
Kensey Jones also volunteered in Richmond Animal Care and Control while teaching 2nd-grade schoolers.
She thought of a beautiful assignment.
She came up with a project that involves the kids writing adoption letters for the animals through the eyes of the adoptable pets.
This project came to light when Kensey was about to teach the class a lesson about Persuasive Writing.
“I wanted to come up with a project that would make the writing authentic,” said Kensey in an interview. “And something that they could really see [the] impacts to our community.”
Kensey had set out to help the shelter animals with the help of her class’ writing.
The class went to the adoptable pet section of the shelter.
One by one, they looked at each animal and fell in love with all of them.
“The children were very surprised that not all animals come from a breeder,” Kensey shared.
A life lesson in the making.
This meant that a life lesson was instilled in these young kids about animals and that there are some who end up in a Shelter.
It taught them empathy.
Kensey saw a lot of the kids experienced empathy during the visit.
They became connected with the animals and were very eager to help find a forever home for these animals.
The shelter had 23 dogs.
They also had a cat ready for adoption.
Each student was randomly assigned to a specific shelter animal.
After they received their dog, Kensey told them to draw a colorful picture of the dog with its details which connects them better with the animal.
Then she told them to write to potential adopters.
Their letters were hung outside the dog’s kennel so any person who visits the shelter can see and read them.
Kensey was impressed.
She was amazed at how the kids were able to draw and write to their greatest potential.
She shared one letter about a dog named Sleigh Ride.
As she read each line, one can really feel the sincerity and purity of the children conveying their thoughts as if the animal told the kids to write them for them.
The shelter saw the impact of the kids’ letters as one by one, the dogs were getting adopted in a few weeks that passed.
The project had a great impact.
Not just on the dogs at the shelter, but also on the lives of the kids as they venture into life.
It also made an impact on the lives of the new owners and fur parents of the adopted dogs.
The video has gathered more than 200 thousand views on Youtube.
One user commented and said that she shared this idea with her husband who is a 5th-grade teacher and hopefully could help save animals from the shelter and find them a forever home.
Learn more about the incredible impact this lesson has had in the video below!
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