Did you know that Rotary's District 5030 supports a program to donate dictionaries for third grade students? Of course, not every child has access to a computer. Even those with computers may not be using them to look up words or to peruse an online dictionary. Program supporters have noted that kids with this Rotary-supplied dictionary read it. They report kids taking their dictionary to recess and on field trips, and parents learning English using it to improve their English skills. This dictionary has gone to college, and it’s been the reason adults wondered why children were being so quiet.Program coordinator Judy Ginn reports that, for the past two school years, while it was challenging to give dictionaries to third graders, some clubs managed to find ways to do so. Judy and the district literacy champions hope this year will be different and Rotarians might be allowed to deliver dictionaries again. The dictionary price to Rotary clubs is $11.13, including tax and shipping (the same book retails for $21.99 pre-tax). This dictionary offers 896 pages of pictures and features that make it visually appealing and engaging. The only other cost to a participating club will be creating book plates with the Four-Way Test and a place for the student’s name.
This program is very flexible. It's up to the club to determine the number of books it needs. Then the club contacts Judy Ginn with the District Literacy Committee, and she handles the purchase. Club members insert the bookplates and arrange through an elementary school principal to deliver dictionaries to the students, acquainting them with using this dictionary–Covid permitting. If you're interested in donating dictionaries to an elementary school third grade in the Kirkland area, please contact Gary Cohn for details.