As we are all doing our very best to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, we at Pets in the Classroom are preparing for the upcoming grant season and the return of school, whether that be in the classroom, through remote learning, or some combination of the two.
We understand that transitioning back to school after a longer-than-usual and singularly eventful break will present unique challenges for teachers in getting students settled into a classroom routine once again. After such an unprecedented past school year, many children will likely experience some form of difficulty readjusting to the “classroom.” In addition to adding social distancing measures to possible in-school learning, there will likely be other issues that teachers will face, such as anxiety, difficulty focusing, self-control issues and other emotional and behavioral problems on an even greater scale than prior to the pandemic. We hope that Pets in the Classroom can be one of the tools teachers will utilize to give students emotional support as they re-adjust to school, in whatever form it occurs.
Near the end of this past school year, Pets in the Classroom conducted a survey of teachers across the U.S. and Canada who had been recent grant recipients. The survey showed that teachers are using pets, both in the classroom and in remote learning, and that students are benefiting from them.
Nearly 69 percent of survey respondents indicated that they still incorporated their pet into virtual learning. As one teacher stated, “This is an awesome program and even through distant learning, our class leopard gecko has been a part of our daily Google Meets. Especially during these unusual learning experiences, our class pet has helped students with anxiety and engagement. I have had feedback from many parents that seeing our Little Leo was something that helped their kids during this time.”
Another teacher stated, “During mandatory stay-at-home, students were very worried about Alexandria. I decided to post a daily picture of her. I have incorporated these pictures into travel, pop culture, geology and more. I include coloring pages and links to websites so students can learn more. Out of 960 students, 641 have signed up voluntarily for my Google Library Class to see Alexandria and learn what she has been up to each day.”
During in-class instruction, teachers saw improvements in attendance, empathy/compassion, responsibility, testing/academic performance, self-esteem, and student engagement. Teachers also reported that pets help students improve their social skills and decrease anxiety. As one teacher stated, “To say that having class pets is beneficial would be an understatement. It is therapeutic for both staff and students. I am amazed at how my students responded in such a positive way to our pets. It opened the floor for honest conversations about managing emotions, stress, and how our actions and reactions affect others.”
We don’t know what the school year will look like for each teacher and classroom, but we do know that pets have a transformative effect on students. It is our hope that, if teachers are safely able to, they will include a pet in their learning environment. To learn more about the benefits of classroom pets and how you can get financial assistance to have a pet in your classroom, visit www.dbf9eaf4ed.nxcli.io.
