The Laguna Niguel Rotary Club has completed its annual Dictionary Project for 3rd Graders. Every 3rd grade student in Laguna Niguel elementary schools--and select schools in Dana Point and Aliso Viejo--received a free dictionary from the Rotary Club. This project recognizes the fact that 3rd grade is a critical stage in a child's academic development. "From kindergarten through second grade, kids learn to read," says Dr. Bill Nguyen DDS, a Past Rotary Club president who spearheads the project. "But from third grade on, children read to learn." As a child immigrating from Vietnam, as directed by his father, Dr. Nguyen learned to speak English by reading the dictionary and memorizing 50 words a day. Dr. Nguyen shares this story with students each school the Club visits and the impact of this long term program has been validated again and again. "We've had several students approach us in the high school and college years to share their gratitude and tell us that they still have the dictionaries they received from the Laguna Niguel Rotary Club in third grade. It's a very rewarding to hear that," said Nguyen. 2022 Dictionary Project
The Laguna Niguel Rotary Club has completed its annual Dictionary Project for 3rd Graders. Every 3rd grade student in Laguna Niguel elementary schools--and select schools in Dana Point and Aliso Viejo--received a free dictionary from the Rotary Club. This project recognizes the fact that 3rd grade is a critical stage in a child's academic development. "From kindergarten through second grade, kids learn to read," says Dr. Bill Nguyen DDS, a Past Rotary Club president who spearheads the project. "But from third grade on, children read to learn." As a child immigrating from Vietnam, as directed by his father, Dr. Nguyen learned to speak English by reading the dictionary and memorizing 50 words a day. Dr. Nguyen shares this story with students each school the Club visits and the impact of this long term program has been validated again and again. "We've had several students approach us in the high school and college years to share their gratitude and tell us that they still have the dictionaries they received from the Laguna Niguel Rotary Club in third grade. It's a very rewarding to hear that," said Nguyen.