Frequently Asked Questions

We have compiled a list of the most frequent questions that new sponsors ask. If you still have any other questions after this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Q: What difference do the dictionaries make, and how do you know?

A: To answer this question from an academic standpoint, how do the dictionaries impact test scores or student achievement in the classroom, is hard to gauge. We are a nonprofit organization, not a for-profit educational enhancement program. Our mission is to provide books to children so that they can enjoy the benefits of owning their own dictionaries. The reach and scope of nonprofit organizations extends beyond the tangible numbers of statistics gathered from data. So the evidence we have to support the effectiveness of the project is primarily anecdotal. But what anecdotes! Just this small collection of excerpts from letters we've received from children shows that the dictionaries absolutely make a difference:

Thank you for the dictionary. I am greatful for the gift. I appreciate it. It is a useful book. Thank you for beliving in me. ?Rosie, Louisiana

Thank you for the awesome dictionary. I have had so much fun reading it. I like it so much I took it home but I brought it back to school. Thank you for realizing how much I needed my own dictionary. ?Elena, California

Thank you for the dictionary. I never had my own dictionary before. I keep it with me all the time. Just in case I need it. ?Logan, Virginia

Thank you for the dictionary.  I really enjoy it.  I really like it and I alredy used it.  It makes me feel like I am special.  I learn a lot from it.  ?Carrie, Vermont

Thank you so much for the dictionary. I really like it! This dictionary had so many things I wanted to learn and now I learned it because of you! I appreciate kindness and generosity you gave to me. I will always use the dictionary you gave me! ?Ariana, California

Thank you for the dictionary.  I used it a lot for home work.  I like it because it helps me in a lot of ways.  The book makes me feel like I can do everything. ?Steven, Vermont

Sometimes a dictionary makes a difference for a whole family:

I would like to thank you for the presentation and the dictionaries. I've used it a lot at home. So has my brother. When he can't find a word. It is very helpful when I need to find a word. My mom and dad even use it sometimes. ?Riley, New York

In addition to the impact the project has on the children who receive the books, we hear constantly that the project has a tremendous impact on the sponsors giving out the books. Here is a sampling of notes from our sponsors:

I read about the dictionary project a few weeks ago in a newsletter. I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved; I love dictionaries. The schools in my county are covered by the Rotary Club, so I looked at other counties in western NC. I can't believe that I'm just hearing about this wonderful project. What an opportunity to be able to give dictionaries to children. It's as if you've given me a gift. ?Deirdre H., Hendersonville, NC

Last year, we were held up for a few minutes by students who wanted autographs. It seems that the dictionaries had an impact on the students and the students had a BIG impact on my members. Great Program. ?Shorewood and Lac Ste Claire Kiwanis Clubs, MI

This is the third year that our club has participated in this project and it is one of the most amazing projects I have ever been involved in. I never would have imagined the reaction that we would receive from the students. The shocked expressions when they learn the book has their name in it and that they get to keep it, the smiles, applause and hugs that we receive are truly heart-warming. ?Rotary Club of Lawton, OK

My club enjoys providing these dictionaries to the 3rd grade students in our area. The kids are so excited that people that they do not know want to give them a great dictionary that they can keep! We feel like we are making a difference in the lives of each student that receives these dictionaries. ?Verizon TelecomPioneers, TX

The kids are excited and that is the absolute best part. They all have enjoyed the books and ASKED us to do it this year themselves. That is very rewarding for our Kiwanis Club to have the kids ask for the books. This has been an incredible motivator for the children in our 4 elementary schools and our 2 middle schools. We couldn't have picked a better project. ?Kiwanis Club of Caledonia, MI

For those still looking for some kind of statistics, we are pleased to share that the California Dictionary Project, one of our sponsors, conducted a survey of teachers in the San Jose School District whose students received dictionaries. 93% of the teachers agreed or strongly agreed that “The Dictionary Project is a worthwhile project for my students.”

Q: Why books? Don't all kids have computers nowadays?

A: As of 2003, 76% of children ages 3-17 lived in households with at least one computer, and 42% used a home computer to access the Internet. While these numbers have surely risen since 2003, it is likely that about one in five American children do not have access to a computer at home. Children in minority ethnic groups or low-income households are much less likely to have a computer at home. (see data at http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/69homecomputeruse.cfm )

Even for children with computer access, a dictionary provides benefits a computer cannot. Dictionaries are portable and can be used anywhere. A child has a sense of ownership of a book that encourages exploration. And only a dictionary can provide that delightful experience of looking up a word and getting sidetracked by all the other fascinating words on the same page.

Q: Why do you recommend giving the dictionaries to third graders?

A: We chose third grade as the year to give dictionaries to students for two reasons. The first is practical: third grade is the year in which dictionary skills are taught in most schools. The second is no less practical, but broader in scope: third grade represents a critical juncture in a child's education. This is the year a student makes the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. All formal education from this point through college is premised upon the student being able to read and to understand what he or she reads. If we as a community want our children to succeed in education, we must ensure that they have the resources and encouragement to become strong readers by third grade.

Q: Are there any additional costs, like shipping or tax, beyond the listed costs for the books?

A: No. The requested sponsor costs listed include shipping. Because you are not purchasing books, but making a donation to sponsor the books, there is no tax involved.

Q: So how do I buy dictionaries?

A: The Dictionary Project does not sell dictionaries. The way the project works is that you as the sponsor make a monetary donation to our organization and volunteer to distribute the books to students. By taking delivery of the books you agree that you will give them to students in the schools or programs you specify, not sell or keep them. Because we are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, books obtained through us must be given to children as gifts. If you would like to purchase books to be used as classroom sets and remain with the school, we will gladly put you in touch with the publishers of the books we use so that you may purchase directly from them.

Q: I'm a third-grade teacher. How can I get dictionaries for my students?

A: Most of our projects are sponsored by local civic organizations. You can contact your local Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, or Women's Club, Elks Lodge, Grange, or other groups to tell them about the project and ask if they would be willing to sponsor your school. Many PTAs and PTOs and even entire school districts also sponsor the project for their students. If your efforts to find a sponsor have been unfruitful, please contact us; we may be able to help.

Q: What kind of evidence do you have that The Dictionary Project makes a difference in children's education?”

A: Several people have asked us this question or a similar one recently, so we decided to take a look at the available educational and scientific research to see if we could find an answer.

Educators in general treat the importance of dictionary usage as a given. Those who create curriculum standards certainly believe it is essential: 46 of the 50 states specifically include dictionary skills in their elementary language arts standards. The standards include the use of dictionaries to understand the meanings and other properties of words (such as part of speech), to build vocabulary, and to edit written work for correct spelling and usage. (The other four states include these skills as well, but without specific reference to dictionaries as a way to achieve them. Links to state standards can be found at http://www.education-world.com/standards/state/toc/index.shtml .) Many states also permit students to use dictionaries while taking required standardized tests. Since many schools do not have the budget to provide enough dictionaries in the classroom for each student to have one, The Dictionary Project allows more children to benefit from this resource.

Very little research has been done on how owning or using a dictionary impacts a child's learning. A single study by John R. Beech of the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom found that, “Examining dictionary skills in poor readers showed that they were significantly slower and less accurate in looking up words in a dictionary than their age peers who were average readers” and concluded, “Persuading younger children to use a dictionary more could develop their spelling skills, possibly by encouraging them to be more proactive.” (You can read the full abstract of Dr. Beech's article “Using a Dictionary: Its Influence on Children's Reading, Spelling, and Phonology” here: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/02702710490271819 .) We are also pleased to share that the California Dictionary Project, one of our sponsors, conducted a survey of teachers in the San Jose School District whose students received dictionaries. 93% of the teachers agreed or strongly agreed that, “The Dictionary Project is a worthwhile project for my students.”

Even without statistical evidence, the logic behind giving dictionaries to children is clear. Using a dictionary helps a child develop skills in two areas that will improve both reading and writing ability. First, independently looking up words in a dictionary requires a student to think critically, cultivating problem-solving skills. Second, by learning the meanings, part of speech, and other properties of a word, a student acquires knowledge, building vocabulary. A student who has a dictionary of his or her own is more likely to use it, and use it often, than a student who only has access to a classroom dictionary on a shelf across the room somewhere.

The power of the gift resides in the giving. Our sponsors who donate money to the Dictionary Project typically implement the program where they live by visiting the schools to present the dictionaries to the children. While there, they stress the importance of spelling words correctly and learning new words, because in the business world it is as important to present yourself well on paper as it is to be well groomed. Good writing conveys courtesy and respect.

The project has grown dramatically in the 13 years since it began in 1995. This bar graph illustrates the increased level of participation since the program started in South Carolina in 1995 and became a national program in 2000.

Figure 1 - Number of dictionaries and other books distributed in recent years (est.)

Since then residents in all fifty states have volunteered their time and raised money to provide dictionaries to the children where they live. In Idaho, Iowa, Hawaii and Utah the citizens throughout these states have provided dictionaries to every third-grade public-school student in their communities. This comment from a sponsor explains why they do it: "We have participated in this program for the last 5 years and the joy on the faces of the children is what makes this a worthwhile project." Jan Brewer, Boise, Idaho.

Here is a sampling of other notes from our sponsors:

I read about the dictionary project a few weeks ago in a newsletter. I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved; I love dictionaries. The schools in my county are covered by the Rotary Club, so I looked at other counties in western NC. I can't believe that I'm just hearing about this wonderful project. What an opportunity to be able to give dictionaries to children. It's as if you've given me a gift. - Deirdre H., Hendersonville, NC

Last year, we were held up for a few minutes by students who wanted autographs. It seems that the dictionaries had an impact on the students and the students had a BIG impact on my members. Great Program. - Shorewood and Lac Ste Claire Kiwanis Clubs, MI

This is the third year that our club has participated in this project and it is one of the most amazing projects I have ever been involved in. I never would have imagined the reaction that we would receive from the students. The shocked expressions when they learn the book has their name in it and that they get to keep it, the smiles, applause and hugs that we receive are truly heart-warming. - Rotary Club of Lawton, OK

My club enjoys providing these dictionaries to the 3rd grade students in our area. The kids are so excited that people that they do not know want to give them a great dictionary that they can keep! We feel like we are making a difference in the lives of each student that receives these dictionaries. - Verizon TelecomPioneers, TX

The kids are excited and that is the absolute best part. They all have enjoyed the books and ASKED us to do it this year themselves. That is very rewarding for our Kiwanis Club to have the kids ask for the books. This has been an incredible motivator for the children in our 4 elementary schools and our 2 middle schools. We couldn't have picked a better project. - Kiwanis Club of Caledonia, MI

We choose to use our limited funds to buy dictionaries for children rather than to conduct studies. If you are or know an education researcher who would like to undertake a research project on how owning dictionaries improves academic performance, please let us know! We are confident that the dictionaries do have a positive impact on the children who receive them. Besides being useful gifts, the dictionaries are a powerful statement of support from the community. We know this because of the thousands of responses we have received from students, teachers, administrators, and sponsors.

Here is a sampling of some of our favorite letters from children:

Thank you for the awesome dictionary. I have had so much fun reading it. I like it so much I took it home but I brought it back to school. Thank you for realizing how much I needed my own dictionary. - Elena, California

Thank you for the dictionary. I never had my own dictionary before. I keep it with me all the time. Just in case I need it. - Logan, Virginia

Thank you for the dictionary. I really enjoy it. I really like it and I alredy used it. It makes me feel like I am special. I learn a lot from it. - Carrie, Vermont

Thank you so much for the dictionary. I really like it! This dictionary had so many things I wanted to learn and now I learned it because of you! I appreciate kindness and generosity you gave to me. I will always use the dictionary you gave me! - Ariana, California

Thank you for the dictionary. I used it a lot for home work. I like it because it helps me in a lot of ways. The book makes me feel like I can do everything. - Steven, Vermont

Sometimes a dictionary makes a difference for a whole family:

I would like to thank you for the presentation and the dictionaries. I've used it a lot at home. So has my brother. When he can't find a word. It is very helpful when I need to find a word. My mom and dad even use it sometimes. - Riley, New York