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The idea for The Dictionary Project began in 1992 when Annie Plummer of Savannah, Georgia, gave 50 dictionaries to children who attended a school close to her home.
Since its implementation in 1995, over 18 million children have received dictionaries because thousands of people saw the same need in communities all over the United States.
The original goal set by the board was to provide dictionaries to all third-grade students in South Carolina every year. This goal was achieved in 1999. After The Wall Street Journal published a story about the project in March 2002, the Dictionary Project took on a national purpose and expanded its mission to include students in the 50 United States. The program is typically implemented in the third grade each year, since this is the age at which dictionary skills are usually taught. Educators describe third grade as the time when a student transitions from learning to read to reading to learn.
The program has been adopted and refined by individuals, businesses, and civic organizations all over the country such as Rotary Clubs.
Working with the administrators, principal and teachers of Wylie Elementary School in Abilene, TX, we have confirmed the 3rd grade as an appropriate age to give each student their own personalized dictionary. The reading level is sufficient to challenge them to learn new words as they begin to broaden their vocabulary and strengthen their reading skills.
Our goal is to get dictionaries into the hands of elementary school children and encourage their academic progression. Our goal is to assist all students to become good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing students a gift of their own personal dictionary. The dictionaries are a gift for the children to keep. Students can use the dictionaries throughout their school careers.
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