Republic file photo Third grader Nathan Enneking looks up a word in his new dictionary Sept. 3, 2015, in Kim Kennedy’s class at CSA Fodrea.
After nearly two decades of providing “a little yellow” gift to every third-grader in the county, organizers have announced they are closing the books on the annual “Dictionary Project.”
Since it began nearly 20 years ago, more than 20,000 dictionaries, including Spanish and Japanese versions, have been distributed to area third-graders in public, private and homeschool classrooms as well as adult literacy and English language programs, according to the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
But partners have decided improvements in technology since the project began have lessened the demand for paperback dictionaries as a quick reference tool.
The local “Dictionary Project” was made possible through annual grant funding from Heritage Fund and distributed by Bartholomew Retired Teachers Association with support from IUPUC Center for Teaching and Learning, Heritage Fund officials said.
In 2004, Lyn Morgan, former grants manager at Heritage Fund, researched the national program and brought the idea to center for help with offering it locally.
The partners believed reading was the most important skill for students to master and hoped the dictionaries helped children expand their vocabularies, encouraging them to “look it up!” Nationally more than 35 million third-graders have received personal dictionaries as part of the program.
Past and current third-grade educators thanked organizers for the years of dictionary distributions, which they said not only benefited students’ vocabularies but also taught ownership and responsibility.
“You all have, no doubt, made a lasting impression on all of them! What an incredible gift you have given to each of our students over time,” Southside Elementary teacher Robin Kiel said.
As part of its strategic impact area of positive Youth Development, Heritage Fund will continue to explore opportunities to support students in the community, Heritage Fund officials said.
