Third-graders receive dictionaries

Sisters Country third-graders received a personalized paperback dictionary last Friday, compliments of the Rotary Club of Sisters and a nationwide organization called The Dictionary Project. Around 135 of the books were distributed to students at Sisters Elementary School, Sisters Christian Academy and Black Butte School.

The Rotary Club has participated in the project for several years and joins many other service clubs across the country seeking to aid students who are learning to write and spell. According to The Dictionary Project website, "Educators describe third grade as the time when a student transitions from learning to read to reading to learn."

Sisters Elementary School third grade teacher Julie Holden concurs.

"This is a time when they are learning alphabetizing skills. It's wonderful for students to have their own dictionary to take home," she said.

Rotary Club President Gary Oldham emphasized the importance of having a dictionary close at hand. He shared several examples with the Sisters Elementary School students at the Friday morning gathering. Having a dictionary in a desk or backpack means a word can be looked up immediately - no waiting for a classroom computer. And a dictionary includes the definition and origin of the word, something spell checks don't include. Plus, there's the fun of getting sidetracked by all the other interesting words on the same page.

Oldham left the students with a tip that combines the traditional with technology.

"Look up 'dictionary games for kids' on Google and you'll find a bunch of fun ways to use your dictionary," he said.