Why in the world would you have 'class sets' of dictionaries? Because that's what everyone else does? You are smarter than that, right?
To explore that further, please answer the following questions:
Do all of the students in your class read at exactly the same level?
Does any dictionary have ALL the features, words, tools, and resources that you need?
Are you capable of - and interested in - differentiating instruction for your students?
Here are the answers I'd predict for anyone reading this article:
No.
No.
Yes.
Given those answers, let's think about making the case with other teachers in your building about using a variety of dictionaries instead of the proverbial 'class set.'
Students read at a range of reading levels, no matter whether they are in first grade or are juniors in high school.
Students need dictionaries that are appropriate for their reading level or there is little or no chance that they will access them.
If students don't use the dictionaries that are in a classroom, then there is little reason to have them in the classroom.
Students need dictionaries that are challenging enough to make them interesting but not inaccessible because the reading level is too high.
If everyone in the classroom is using a different dictionary (or at least it appears that way) when students are doing dictionary work, then no one feels singled out because s/he is the ONLY one with a higher or lower level of dictionary. The idea is for all students to feel included in the learning event.
Let's hope you can use some of these reasons/arguments with some of your colleagues. When you do, then have a dictionary 'swap.' Have all the teachers (who 'get it') bring their dictionaries to a central location (like your classroom). Whatever number of dictionaries that a person comes in with is the number s/he will leave with. Everyone can wander around the classroom choosing from the piles of dictionaries that are displayed.
An additional way to differentiate your dictionary selection is to go to garage sales (normally I'm not a fan) and buy dictionaries that are available. Old, new, battered, whatever...buy them for 50 cents or thereabouts.
Another way is to check out the discount tables at bookstores. I'm stunned at the fabulous, brand new dictionaries that one can purchase for a few dollars.
And yes... yet another way is to ask parents, friends, or local libraries to donate dictionaries for your classroom. MANY people will say yes - and this adds to the array of choices your students will have the next time you say, 'Good news, it's time for some word play and dictionary fun!'
Have you "traded" some dictionaries with grade levels above or below yours so that you have a wider range of dictionaries?
Make the dictionaries in your classroom irresistible and then students will clamor for opportunities to just enjoy them. I know because I was one of 'those' classroom teachers who did things like that. I'll bet you are, too. Hooray for us!!!
And if you would like to access scores of free resources that you can use to support the learners in your classroom, including PowerPoints, PDFs, and Word documents, just go to
** http://www.OwningWordsforLiteracy.com - and you can click on the Downloads tab.
To get numerous articles with teaching tips (for free), just go to http://www.ArticlesforTeachers.com and see what's there for you to use in your classroom.
(c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"(tm). Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do. Sound interesting? It is!
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