The Dictionary Project The benefits and consequences of literacy do not stop at the classroom door, but continue down the halls, following students out of school and into the rest of their lives. 75% of unemployed adults have difficulties in reading or writing, 85% of children arrested have reading problems, and 75% of all food stamp recipients perform in the lowest levels of literacy. Low literacy skills in the Georgia workplace cost employers $57 billion annually.      Through the simple gift of a dictionary, a student is armed with a powerful reference tool. The spellings, pronunciations and definitions found within are stepping stones to the dictionary's arsenal of lessons. Problems that arise as a child develops his or her reading, writing, and creative thinking abilities are no longer daunting foes.  Inspired by the maxim "look it up", a child uses this tool to solve problems they encounter, and each victory instills a stronger sense of  self-reliance and resourcefulness within the child. With consistent access to this tool, the children expand their vocabulary and teachers benefit by knowing that students can complete their homework and in-class explorations--even with correct spelling!   This program is an opportunity for children to develop essential skills and for many, to actually own a dictionary. Through volunteers and civic organizations, dictionaries are distributed to third grade classrooms. Volunteers visit the classroom for 10-15 minutes giving the students a "pep talk" to use the dictionary and always to "look it up!" when they meet a new word. Though this program, over 300,000 students have recieved a dictionary and access to its valuable lessons.