When working on back to school hopes and dreams, students expressed the desire for a classroom pet. Students were asked to set goals in order to demonstrate their level of responsibility. Students set the goal of working on better attendance a district-wide initiative. 

After successfully reaching their goal, students and teachers welcomed Teddy and Sprinkles, two male guinea pigs, to Room 305!

In order to prepare for the arrival of our new classroom friends, students wrote persuasive paragraphs and voted on names for our new friends. Students then worked as a team to set up their cage in the perfect spot in the classroom. Finally, students researched and made info sheets with facts about guinea pigs to share with other members of their school community. They included topics such as behaviors, environment, and diet. 

Funding for the supplies and animals was obtained through a grant program Pets In The Classroom. After some research, I found the program that centers themselves around providing classrooms with opportunities to enrich students' educational and personal growth through interaction with pets in their classroom. 

According to studies and teacher feedback, having students interact with a classroom pet has the ability to:

• Teach empathy and compassion

• Facilitate student responsibility

• Increase engagement and attendance

• Reduce anxiety

Welcoming Teddy and Sprinkles into our classroom continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my teaching career. I have witnessed first hand the profound impact that interaction with animals can have on students with disabilities. The students in Room 305 have continued to demonstrate responsibility in taking care of their class pets. They work together to make sure Teddy and Sprinkles are fed, have water, and that their cage is clean. They have learned important life skills and tasks that will follow them far beyond my classroom. Teddy and Sprinkles love hearing the students read to them and jump around their cage when they hear student voices. They also love being the star of all of our math word problems. 

Teddy and Sprinkles have become the resident therapy animals for the third floor at P.S./M.S. 37. Students from all classes enjoy coming to visit as a reward or if they just need a minute to regroup.