Dictionary Project

Over 1.5 million children have received a dictionary from volunteers who have participated in the Dictionary Project to provide a dictionary for the third grade students in their community each year, so that children can enjoy the benefits of a large vocabulary.

The goal of this program is to assist all third grade students to complete the school year as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing the students with their own personal dictionaries. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come.

A dictionary is perhaps the first and most powerful reference tool that a child should own. Its usefulness goes beyond the spellings, pronunciations and definitions it lists. It is also a companion for solving problems that arise as a child develops his or her reading, writing, and creative thinking abilities. Students benefit from an increased self-reliance and resourcefulness inspired by the maxim, “look it up”. The importance of using a dictionary to make sure all words are spelled correctly is emphasized. This is an opportunity for children to expand their vocabulary. A strong vocabulary is important for gaining knowledge because this is the only way people have of sharing their ideas and thoughts through communication.

The success of The Dictionary Project has been through the tireless efforts of the people who have made a personal commitment to improving literacy and the quality of life in their community. A dictionary is an essential tool for a quality education. A child cannot do his or her best work without one.  Together we can make sure that every child benefits from the power of words; because that is the only way they can become self-reliant. Reading is the most important skill of all. It is the starting point for all the economic and social opportunities this world has to offer.