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The National Grange Will Present Third Graders with Free Dictionaries at Three Columbus Elementary Schools
Columbus, OHIO, November 11, 2005 –The Grange is proud to support The Dictionary Project through its Word for Thirds program. Through the tireless efforts of the Grange’s network of more than 200,000 volunteers, America’s oldest rural and agriculture organization has presented third grade students across the nation with more than 100,000 dictionaries.
And, that number will continue to rise when the National Grange President William Steel presents third grade students with dictionaries at Cedarwood, East Pilgrim, and Sullivant Elementary Schools on November 11, 2005 beginning at 9 a.m. (Cedarwood at 9 a.m., East Pilgrim at 10 a.m., and Sullivant at 11 a.m.)
A dictionary is one of the most powerful reference tools young children will be introduced to during their schooling years. Its usefulness goes beyond just providing correct spellings, pronunciations, and definitions. It is also a companion for solving problems that arise as children develop their reading, writing, and creative thinking abilities.
“It is amazing to see the smile on a child’s face when we present them with dictionaries,” Steel said. “It gives them a sense of pride when they have their own dictionary to look up words on. It promotes learning and helps mold their self-confidence and independence.”
The Grange, headquartered in Washington, D.C., partnered with The Dictionary Project, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, in 2002. The goal of the program is to assist third grade students to complete the school year as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers by providing them with their own personal dictionaries. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come. The organization has presented more than 1.8 million children with dictionaries.
Founded in 1867, today Grange activities include and serve rural families and communities on a wide variety of economic, educational, legislative and family issues.
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