District Dictionary Project

For further information contact: Dan Kristoffersen

District 5110 Dictionary Project is underway!! This year 5110 Rotary Clubs will be handing out more than 15,000 dictionaries to third graders in our District. 3 million children in the U.S. every year receive a dictionary from volunteers like us who participate in The Dictionary Project.

Dictionaries are ordered, and delivery to drop ship locations is promised to be October 14, 2008. Noah Webster's birthday is October 16, and everyone is asked to hand out the books as near this date as they are able. Bookplates for the next 3 years are in the hands of your AG or TDP chair at this time.

Clubs are encouraged to get the involvement of media for dictionary distribution. VERY IMPORTANT: Be sure to check with the teacher or principal before taking any pictures of the kids, in case some are restricted from being photographed. Newspaper articles about your delivery of the dictionaries is one valuable resource. Getting the local T.V. station to cover your delivery is another. No matter what media you use, it will let the community know you are helping kids.

When you pass out the books, here are some ways to get the involvement of your class: First you should identify yourselves, as a club and individually, so they all know you. Then pass out the books, and have the kids turn to the bookplate and insert their own name. For some, this may be the first book that has become their own. Another thing you can do is see who can be the first to find certain words, such as FAIR, TRUTH, etc. and watch how fast they go to be the first! No matter how much time you are allowed by the teacher, you probably will not want to leave. When you are with the teacher, please ask, within the week, if they could have the class do a short project of thank-you letters or drawings. When your club gets them, you are requested by "TDP" people to send them on to them, so they can enjoy what others do and say about the project ( I am giving you a link below ). You can also send them copies of articles from the paper, and photos, etc. I too, would like to be CC'd when you send these items. Their Email is: wordpower@dictionaryproject.org. To CC Dan use: yardarm1670@verizon.net.

REMINDER: Because we are trying to comply with the request of our supply source, and make sure we are covering every school in our District, be sure to send your AG or TDP chair the name of each school you deliver to, their city, and the number of books furnished. They will compile the data and get it to me so I can use the information to aid in next year's deliveries, and to complete our obligation to "The Dictionary Project" people.

Would you like more information or more ideas ? Here is a link to The Dictionary Project homepage: http://www.dictionaryproject.org

I personally want to thank everyone who I have had contact with this year on our Dictionary Project, and to every club that participates in this most worthy endeavor. I know there are a few clubs who cannot deliver 3rd grade dictionaries, and I have some ideas and examples of other options for them next year.

Looking toward Literacy,

Dan Kristoffersen

October 8, 2008