Since Sept. 8 had been designated “International Literacy Day,†members of the Rotary Club of McLean recently met with Diane Payne, Literacy Collaborative Coordinator at Timber Lane Elementary School, and Kathy Kee, School Reading Specialist at Timber Lane Elementary School, to create a cooperative program designed to help students learn to read.
Through the program, McLean Rotarians will provide age appropriate books for children in kindergarten and first grade. Several times during the school year, the children will be allowed to pick a book they particularly enjoyed, and McLean Rotarians will read those selections to the students. In addition, the children will be permitted to keep the books to allow them to read them at home.
McLean Rotary president Scott Mills said the objective “is to develop a life-long love of reading among these children.â€
“Taking the books home will give them a sense of ownership and pride in their accomplishments, while giving parents and family members an additional opportunity to read with these children,†said Mills.
Diane Payne suggested that the project tie into the extremely successful “Keep Books†program, which was developed by Ohio State University, and is already in use in several Fairfax County Public Schools. The Rotary Club of McLean will participate by providing funds and volunteers
McLean Rotary members Kathy Martin and Tim Morahan will coordinate the Rotary volunteers and the purchase and distribution of books.
The McLean Rotary Club meets for lunch Tuesdays at 12 p.m. in the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Fellowship Hall, located at 1545 Chain Bridge Road, in McLean.
For more information, visit www.rotary.org or www.mcleanrotary.org.