South Prairie Elementary School Principal Tom Rucker gave an update on the Rotary Reader Program at this week’s meeting. Rucker is passionate about the impact out loud reading has on children, saying it is a key factor in language use development. He pointed out that reading to a child just 20 minutes a day can expose them to 1.8 million words a year. Under the revised program, reading will be expanded to more classrooms in the Sycamore Public Schools and also include St. Mary’s Grade School.
Rucker reviewed the three-part reading program. He highlighted the three basic parts of reading, sharing details about one’s vocation, and the way to best handle the ending question and answer period. His main tips were using expressions to match the story reading, taking time to show pictures from book, adding dialogue while reading to keep the audience engaged, and being patient. He said another part of the program is to pair male and female Rotarians for the reading sessions.
Reading sign-up sheets will be posted at upcoming meetings.