Rearing2Reading Mission
Rearing2Read improves children's literacy skills through equine-assisted learning experiences and hands-on reading activities around the farm.
Our program is tuition-free, meaning all sessions are run off suggested donations from participating families and donations from our supporters. No child will be turned away due to their ability to pay.
How does horse-powered reading work?
Students interact with horses from the ground, using toys and props to identify obstacles and to learn five critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Rearing2Read operates multiple programs throughout the year. New students must participate in an after-school session before they are eligible for other programs.
What does a session look like?
During sessions, students are given the opportunity to:
Identify
Issues affecting learning are identified and made visible by the student through the use of obstacles (toys and props), which symbolize stumbling blocks that get in the way of understanding.
Connect
Students are allowed to choose their own horse to work with, just as they would choose a book to read. Students are then given an opportunity to connect with their chosen “book.”
Experience
Memory retention and recall improve dramatically when movement anchors learning. Issues getting in the way of academic and social-emotional growth are addressed in the moment.
Reflect
Sessions allow students a chance to reflect on what they are experiencing and provide an opportunity to create new patterns of learning in a supported environment.
