private List<Map<String, SightWord>> getWordsStartingWith(String letter) { List<Map<String, SightWord>> secList = new ArrayList<Map<String, SightWord>>(); for (SightWord sightWord : sightWordList.getSightWords()) { if (sightWord.getValue().toLowerCase().startsWith(letter.toLowerCase())) { Map<String, SightWord> child = new HashMap<String, SightWord>(); child.put("word", sightWord); secList.add(child); } } return secList; }