Rotary Summer Literacy Secret Origin

The Rotary Club of Hamilton, YWCA of Hamilton, Brock University, Hamilton Public Library and Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board founded the Rotary Summer Literacy Program in 2001.  It was originally set up as a three week, half-day program that provided students at risk in the inner city an opportunity to practice and develop their literacy skills.  The program has evolved to be offered full days for 6 weeks during July and August.

The Rotary Summer Literacy Program is based on a best practice Comprehensive Literacy Model.  The participants are provided with read alouds, reflect, relate, and response activities, differentiated instruction, shared and guided reading sessions that are designed to review, reinforce, and stimulate literacy skills.  Although this program is heavily researched and curriculum based the focus is still on fun.  From off beat plays about the books we read to crazy crafts every participant is learning and grows as a learner.

Registration for the Summer Literacy Program is completely free.  We encourage all students to attend, but particularly those who are struggling with reading or writing, to register for the summer program through local schools, libraries and community centers.  Registration is open, and rarely capped, so that every child who is interested can attend the program.

The Rotary Summer Literacy Program is designed based on extensive research.  We apply a comprehensive literacy approach to our programming designing activities that are deemed best practice by the Ontario Ministry of Education.  For example:

·      2007: We integrated into programming the Blooms taxonomy questions, 10 new reading strategies and the Questioning Chart that were deemed best practice by the OME.

·      2008: We focused heavily on differentiated instruction.  Instead of one carbon copy product our students were given choice.  This engaged the 150 to 200 students a day producing higher quality work. 

·      2009: We partnered with Apple Canada and integrated technology into our daily writing lesson.  This approach greatly improved our junior writing skills. 

The Rotary Club of Hamilton has been the lead organization of the program since it’s inception.  Over the past 10 years, Rotary has provided the time, talent, and funding to keep the program running year after year.  Without the Rotary Club of Hamilton the Summer Literacy Program would not exist.