I Like Me!“I Like Me!” is a product of Kindergarteners Count, Inc., an international non-profit organization that is dedicated to children’s self-confidence development through literacy.  The I Like Me! program is a research-based, personalized program for children that was developed to:

  • Instill a love of reading.
  • Foster positive self-concept.
  • Create a positive approach to school and learning.
  • Help build character.
  • Encourage positive behavior.
  • Promote interaction among children, parents, educators, businesses and other aspects of the community.

Kindergarteners Count, Inc. works with local organizations to make the program available to children around the world.  The Columbus Rotary Club serves as that local partner organization in our community by providing the program’s centerpiece, the I Like Me! books and teachers guides, to kindergarten classrooms throughout Bartholomew County each year.  In 2009 Columbus Rotary supplied approximately 900 I Like Me! books to the county’s 17 elementary schools.

Each kindergarten student receives a hard-bound personalized book to keep – making each child a hero in his or her own story and life. Each child’s book is printed separately and contains over 60 personalizations: the child’s name, the names of 2 friends chosen by the child, plus the names of the teacher, principal, school, hometown and state. Names of funding sponsor(s) and volunteer organization(s) are also printed in each book. The books are hard-bound to last for years – a valued gift and unique learning tool to be read, used and cherished by children and parents. The teacher’s guide contains 12-weeks of daily lesson plans, including classroom activities, discussion topics, and parent involvement exercises. The lessons in the teacher’s guide are easily incorporated into the existing curriculum, allowing teachers the flexibility to use all or part of the guide.

The Columbus Rotary Club believes that the I Like Me! book program is an important part of the effort to promote literacy and positive self-image among our community’s children.  Our county’s teachers consistently embrace the program and are eager participants each and every year.  Here is what some of Bartholomew County’s teachers have said about the I Like Me! program:

“Thanks so much to your organization for these fantastic books.  Each year my kindergarteners LOVE receiving them.  What a great way to make a child feel special!”

-  Lynn Sparks, BCSC Kindergarten Teacher

“Thanks for providing these books for the children.  The books are a wonderful resource for teaching reading and the children just LOVE them!!!!”

-    Barb Pruitt, BCSC Kindergarten Teacher

The Columbus Rotary Club relies in part on the generosity of the community’s foundations and businesses each year to make this program available.  Additional funding partners are always welcome.  For more information or to make a contribution to the Columbus Rotary Club I Like Me! effort please contact Rotarian Jeff Bergman at 812.376.2550 or jbergman@columbus.in.gov.

Feel free to also learn about this program online at www.ilikeme.org.