A wordy cause
North Elementary School third-grade students examine their new dictionaries Tuesday. Photo by Chrystal Doucette/Columbia Basin Herald
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake third-grade students received free portable spell-check devices to take with them through their learning careers.
The Moses Lake Kiwanis donated brand new copies of “Webster’s Dictionary for Students” to all third-grade children in Moses Lake’s public and private schools.
North Elementary School was the final stop for deliveries by the civic organization.
“We had a little delay because we had a few more students than expected,” said Kiwanis President Tom Heath.
After students from other schools received dictionaries, the Kiwanis ordered additional copies to ensure every student at North Elementary School would receive one.
Kiwanis member Chris Nelson led the children through their first activity using the dictionary Tuesday. He asked them to find the words “there,” “their” and “they’re,” and to read the definitions.
“We just want you to know that we’re very proud of you guys for being such wonderful students, and hope this helps you even further,” Heath told the children.
When the program started five years ago, Heath expected a “lukewarm” response from students.
“(Instead), they seem to be genuinely excited,” he said.
For some students, the dictionary may be the only book they own, Heath said. He noted some students may even act as translators for their parents.
“We hope they use it until they wear the cover off,” he added.
Nelson said students in his wife’s Lakeview Terrace Elementary School classroom use the dictionaries daily.
“It’s cool. It shows you the meanings,” said Karely Garcia, 9.
In addition to learning about the spelling and definition uses of the dictionary, students learned about extra resources like maps and a list of state capitals.
“This is a cool dictionary,” said Monyku Diamond, 8.
She said her aunt used to own a dictionary, but it didn’t include maps.
“I like the Declaration of Independence in there,” said Stephanie Miller, 9.
Dominique Johnson, 9, called her dictionary “awesome.”
Johnson said she likes “the names in there and the stuff.”
She said she will use the dictionary for looking up words.