In Our Own Communities

Literacy starts at home. There are many children in our country, who don't own one book, or have access to a home reading environment. Literacy begins in infancy, and parents and caregivers need to provide a rich literacy environment to help children acquire literacy skills. Evidence is strong that if young people are not fluent readers and writers by the end of third grade, they may never catch up to their peers. This being said, it becomes extremely critical that all children and adults have the basic reading, writing and math skills necessary to become a success in all aspects of life including education, work and community service.

There is an endless array of projects and opportunities to choose from. Below you will find a sample of the projects D5100 clubs are volunteering for or are implementing in their local communities. Develop your own programs. Talk to literacy professionals, welfare organizations and others in your communities who see the effects on people with low literacy skills. Ask them how you and/or your club can partner with them to help.

Adopt-a-School

When a Rotary club adopts a school; it demonstrates the club’s commitment to the community and its children. Projects can be as small as volunteering in the classroom as a tutor, mentor, lunch or reading buddy or as large as creating a outdoor learning center or giving college scholarships. The reward of a smile or a hug from a student is well worth the time spent! Listed are some projects being put into action by D5100 clubs.

Reading/Listening to Students
Mentorship
Lunch Buddies
Career Day-develop career talks and job shadowing for high school students
SMART Reading Program
Drug Free Youth Initiative
School backpack project for at-risk children from low income families
Scholastic Bowl / Spelling Bee / Reading Competition

Recognition programs to support elementary, middle and high school students
Special program recognition for ESL, English-Spanish students
College scholarships to high school students
Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration activity-March 2
Set up a book donation in your guest speaker’s name each week

Resources:

Dictionary Project

A dictionary is perhaps the most powerful reference tool that a child can own. Every child benefits from the power of words, it is the only way they can become self-reliant. D5100 Rotarians are providing local community service through the funding and distribution of a dictionary to every third grade student, every year as a gift to use at school and at home. (*Some Rotary clubs in D5100 are donating dictionaries to fourth graders) Currently 58 clubs are participating in this literacy program. We are working toward 100 percent!

Resources:

4-Way Test

Rotary’s 4-Way Test is one of the most powerful guides to ethical behavior in existence. D5100 encourages clubs to sponsor a speech and/or essay contest or setting up a discussion forum with students at a local middle school. Students apply the 4-Way Test to a personal experience in their lives and then describe their thoughts and views of the outcome. Your club may also want to display the 4-Way Test at work sites, in public places and in dictionaries and other books given to children.

Contact the Rotary 4 Way Test Essay/Speech Contest Committee Chair

Contact the Rotary 4 Way Test Ethics Program Committee Chair

Computer Assisted Literacy Solution (CALS)

This program is the newest addition to the Resource Group’s recommended literacy projects. CALS is a self-paced, interactive computer based program which helps children and adults, with varying skill levels, to build fluency in the foundation skills of reading and math. Individualized training with a focus on motivational principles improves self-esteem and confidence. CALS offers an additional opportunity for your club to help improve the lives of individuals within your district through literacy improvement.