Third-graders all across the state will have a head start on their homework this year thanks to the Rotary clubs.

The organization is distributing 20,000 dictionaries for the kids personal use.

This scene will be repeated in third grade classes in public, charter and private schools. Rotarians are presenting dictionaries to each youngster.

“We at home have said that words form ideas and ideas run the world. that’s what we taught our kids and so dictionaries are a good first step in third grade,” says Sheri Rolf, rotarian.

As students received their dictionaries and returned to their seats, they couldn’t resist the urge to start looking up words.

“I thought it was pretty cool because it had more words than you can find in my regular dictionary,” says Mari Kumura, third grade student.

And why do you need to know long words?

“So you can have a better education. If you know longer words, you might not have to struggle like in college, or high school or middle school,” says Mari Kumura.

It’s called a student dictionary - but it has supplements like the declaration of independence and the U.S. constitution.

“This will be a wonderful resource for them because they have their own personal one at their desk, they can use it any time they like. what I like is all the extra things in there about our country’s history, the presidents, it’s wonderful,” says Jenny Howard, teacher.

Some of the definitions are more complicated than the word - I asked Mari to look up the word “joy.”

“It’s a noun. Great happiness, delight - - elation,” says Mari Kumura.

Matthews - “elation.” Kumura - “elation.” Matthews - “Do you think this will give you some joy?” Kumura - {laugh} “maybe.”>

The kids know how important it is to get a good education - no matter what they plan to do when they grow up.

“Yeah, I’m gonna play major league baseball.” Matthews - “Cool. But you’ll need to know big words to get a good contract, huh?” Pryse - “Yeah. My dad said I can only go to college if i get a scholarship. Which I hope I will,” says Benjamin Pryse, third grade student.

A dictionary is a good start, Benjamin.