It’s not everyday a student gets to meet an active duty police dog, but some Parkview Elementary School third grade students recently got the chance after reading a story about one in class.
As part of teachers Sean Clark and Laurel Ragalie’s non-fiction reading unit, students read “Officer Mike and Aero,” a story about a police officer and his K-9 companion. In the final days of the unit, the teachers invited members of the Milwaukee Police Department’s K-9 unit to the school to meet with students.
The visit gave students the opportunity to ask questions and meet real members of a police K-9 unit, Officer Todd Johnson and his partner, Dasty (the dog). Students always look forward to visits from Officer Johnson and Dasty, who have visited students at Parkview the past three years.
Part of the non-fiction reading unit experience also gave students opportunities to pursue individual learning activities, work in small groups and participate in whole-class reading. Social studies lessons also are incorporated where students learn about different people in the community.
Following the visit, students wrote thank you letters to Officer Johnson and Dasty for spending time with them.