Dictionary Projects: A Defining Moment in Literacy

The scene is the auditorium of a high-poverty school, where every third-grader has been assembled. When a visitor explains that each child will receive a dictionary of his or her very own, looks of surprise turn to joy. Most live in homes without a dictionary. Regrettably, many have never owned a book. This scene plays out again and again each spring as we visit schools in Chatham County. After years of providing this service, we can think of no way of promoting literacy that is more visible or more rewarding. It is a simple program that teachers across the state can easily replicate in their schools at virtually no cost. In this article, we explain how.