District 6920 Literacy
Welcome to the District 6920 Literacy website! Basic Education and Literacy is one of the District‘s areas of focus. In 2020-2021, a majority (23 of the 42) of the club projects receiving District Grant funds were in the Basic Education and Literacy focus area. The projects represent a total commitment of $89,777.05 in money but are unmeasurable in the commitment of time and effort, and priceless in the lifelong impact they have on the lives of the young — our future.
Here you will find descriptions of projects that proved successful. Use them as models for your club! If your club has succeeded with a Basic Education and Literacy project and would like to share its story, please email me at dwmarks@bellsouth.net. Also email me if you would like to update your project description on this webpage.
Rotary Clubs with Literacy Activities Reported Below
Rotary Literacy Partners
Entertainment legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton is in a partnership between her Dollywood Foundation and Rotary International to promote early childhood reading. Preschool children in every county will one day receive age appropriate books to better prepare them for reading and learning success.
RI places a priority on literacy. Unfortunately this is a significant problem in our own Georgia communities. We, in many cases, have higher illiteracy rates than do provinces in countries such as India.
Dolly Parton Teams with Rotary International to Promote Early Childhood Reading
ATLANTA (March 6, 2009) – Entertainment legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton announced a groundbreaking partnership Friday between her Dollywood Foundation and Rotary International to promote early childhood reading. Preschool children in every county will one day receive age appropriate books to better prepare them for reading and learning success.
Click Here for information on how to become a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Affiliate.
The Dictionary Project is a popular choice for District 6920 Rotary Clubs
The Dictionary Project is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. The goal of this program is to assist all students in completing the school year as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing students with their own personal dictionary. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come. The Dictionary Project gives 95 cents of every dollar donated toward the purchase of dictionaries. Read more at http://www.dictionaryproject.org/ .
Four Way Test Coloring Book
Created by members of the Rotary Club of Millen, GA along with primary school teachers and school board officials during the 1991-92 Rotary year. This fantastic coloring book teaches children all about the virtues of The Four-Way Test with stories that they can easily relate to. The target group is first or second grade students. Provide these coloring books to the same grade every year. Teachers love them! In Stock Now!
Available from Russell Hampton
Ideas from – Jeanette Caneega 2013
Although literacy is concerned with reading, you can also have events dealing with math, essay contests, geography bees, science fairs, etc.
- Ferst Foundation or Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides books being sent to homes for children from birth to age 5 years
- Dictionaries given to students
- Reading to students
- Providing workshops for parents/grandparents to teach them skills for helping their family members and learning about resources
- Participating with Rotary Speech contest by proofreading essays, providing resources such as issues of THE ROTARIAN to acquaint students with Rotary and listening to speeches
- Placing books in library/schools in honor of guest speaker at club
- Providing the Rotary 4-Way Test Coloring Book to 2nd graders
- Serving as mentor to clients at Adult Education Centers
- Providing scholarships for GED Tests
- Creating a library at prison with materials on GED/SAT preparation, being a good parent, managing money, going for job interviews, various literatures, dressing for success, crossword puzzles/games, good manners, work ethics, etc.
- Creating a library at Adult Education Center
- Providing a summer reading program at a school/public library with awards for reading X number of books
- Adding materials at public library that will assist Adult Literacy
- Providing school supplies
- Providing books for a group of children and do so in such a way that the children can pick out a book of interest
- Placing a bookmark in dictionaries/other books with 4-Way Test on one side and information about your club on the other side
- Select a child in foster care and provide literacy materials/serve as a mentor
- Give children in foster care a canvas bag with various books and supplies
- Create a special section in school libraries with books/computer games dealing with bullying
- Providing scholarships for RYLA
- Present scholarship to a graduating senior
- Sponsor a student/teacher of month as a way to recognize excellence in literacy
- Sponsor the Star Student/Star Teacher Program
- Create an appropriate library for drug/family violence centers
- Involve Interact/other youth in literacy projects
- Provide materials for after school programs
- Sponsor an after school program for those students needing extra assistance
- Raise the image of Rotary through such activities as giving out spelling words for school spelling bees and reading to students
- Have mock job interviews for high school students
- Participate in a school career day by speaking to students about your profession
- Allow a student(s) to shadow you for a day
- Invite Interact students for club meetings – especially when your program would be of some interest to them
- Providing a subscription of THE ROTARIAN or giving old copies to schools
Jeanette Caneega, District Literacy Chair