Holy Spirit Academy had some special guests in the classroom this week as a couple of dog volunteers and their handlers came to the school and students got to read to them.

Communication coordinator with Literacy for Life Deanna Misana says the program is popular with students and with the dogs.

"So the Dog Tales program is designed to have reluctant readers read to dogs," said Misana. "So there is no judgement and they just read freely and learn to love reading through that.

Teacher Paula Hamilton says it is a great program that gives the students a boost in their reading skills.

"It is just another opprotunity to practice their reading skills," said Hamilton. "And develop that love of reading that sometimes they maybe struggle with."

She adds it is done in a way that they are just reading for the enjoyment of it.

The program runs in both the Christ the Redeemer School Division and the Foothills School Division for 10 weeks at a time.