Reading at Woodward Elementary

The Rotary Club of Brookhaven invited the Rotary Clubs of North Atlanta, South DeKalb, Dunwoody, and Decatur, to join in an initiative to help Pre-K and Kindergarten students at Woodward Elementary be "reading to learn" by 3rd grade. With the support of a Rotary District Grant and partnering with the Ferst Foundation, together we are supporting this goal through book donations and reading monthly to 10 Kindergarten and 3 Pre-K classes at Woodward Elementary. Throughout this year, we'll donate more than 3,000 books to 248 students, read to 13 classes monthly and equip parents with book specific multi-lingual reading guides to use at home. This early reading project is helping students "learn to read" and learn to love to read, so that by the time they reach third grade they will be "ready to learn" through reading.Statistics show that 3rd grade is a pivotal time. Students at a 3rd grade level of reading by third grade are more likely to stay in school and become productive adults. Students who are not able to read at a third grade level by third grade often fall behind, are more likely to drop out of school and become at risk young individuals and ultimately more dependent on support from society. The reading program at Woodward Elementary is one of the collaborative programs coming together because of the awareness created by the "Get Georgia Reading" Campaign.