Detailed description
The Rotary Club of Waterville’s Rhoda Reads™ is an early literacy program designed especially for Rotarians to engage in the development of our youngest community learners at the most opportune time – when they are ages 0-5. Learning to read is a major foundational skill which strongly correlates with both academic and vocational success. The Rhoda Reads™ program trains Rotarians on early childhood development, and then equips each Rotarian participant with a Tool Kit which includes a variety of books for children up to age 5 as well as an adorable stuffed owl named Rhoda (our program mascot). Rotarians are then matched with a local early childcare provider which they will regularly visit and spend time reading to children 0-5 years of age. Our Club has created an implementation guide and kit for our fellow Rotary Clubs so that they can replicate the program in their area. The kit includes a copy of our own children’s book Rhoda’s Rescue, a stuffed Rhoda Owl and Rhoda stickers.