Meet Cinnamon the dog. Cinnamon and his owner, former special education teacher Karen Click (right), occasionally visit Indian Trail School for pet therapy. There, they meet with small groups of students who may need additional help with behavioral skills and communication.
Together, the students learn how to read cues and practice impulse control, with assistance from Cinnamon, Ms. Click and Mallory Wielgolewski (left), Indian Trail’s social worker.
“The therapy dog has been a huge help for the students,” Wielgolewski said. “The dog represents a nonjudgmental friend. Students are more sensitive about respecting the dog’s personal space, since the dog cannot communicate his needs. The students often surprise me by connecting social-emotional learning and zones of regulation lessons from the classroom to the skills we practice with Cinnamon. It’s very impressive!”