If
you are a teacher, you know how expensive it is to add new titles to your
classroom library. Also, if you are
anything like me, you want all the books!
There are a variety of ways you can start to add to your library slowly
over time. Before you know it, your
selection will be quite impressive
Teachers
make beautiful displays of their wish list each school year. I’ve seen the apple tree where parents can
pick an apple that has “baby wipes” written on it. The goal is for every parent to pick an apple
from the tree and have that student bring in said supplies. Just add a few book titles to that list! Parents know that back to school shopping is
a must and they may be more receptive to purchase a book at the beginning of
the school year. It could also be the
pressure of watching other parents pick items to purchase too!!
This
takes me to the wonderful Amazon Wishlist.
Well, I think it’s wonderful. I
like the fact that I can add the book to the list with ease. If I’m out and I see a title I would like to
explore later, I just search Amazon then add it to my list. The list is always growing. You can share this link with the parents of
your students at the beginning of the year or add it to your class newsletter or
webpage. The link can also be part of your email signature. Place it anywhere your parents can see it.
If
you are not familiar with DonorsChoose hold on to your seat. There is actually a website where you can
post items that you need for your classroom.
It was started in 2000 by a teacher that thought about all the money he
and his colleagues were spending on books and other materials. He knew that there were people around the
country who wanted to help. Set up an
account and post your first project. You
will answer a few questions about how your project will be used and a little
info about the school. There are
approved vendors that you can shop and Amazon is on the list! I’ve had the most success when I post a book
project in late summer or back to school time.
There are also companies that will match your donations or fully fund the
amount.
Focus
on one genre or book per month and have your students make videos for people to
watch. Think Reading Rainbow meets
Donors Choose. Make sure you have
parental permission before sharing on social media. Here is an example of what your students can
do. Video your students listening to
books and the activities they do with each book. Include this in the video with the new book
you wish to have. There are many free apps
you can download to your phone that will allow you to create very simple “movies.” Parents love to see their children
showcased.
Collect the writing of your students throughout the month or if you taught a specific genre like poetry. You could offer an Author’s Night and invite the family to come out to support you. Inform the audience that you are accepting donations that will go towards the purchase of a set of books for the classroom. You could even have a picture of the book covers on display. Again, parents enjoy watching their children share their creative genius.
Goodwill
and other resale stores will have a variety of books. This is not the first place I look to find
diverse, picture books but every now and then I find a steal. Make sure you take your time and have patience. It’s not like walking into a bookstore. They do have a children’s section but it has
EVERYTHING from board books to YA chapter books.
First
Book marketplace is my go-to for diverse literature. I always check this
website first because the books are so affordable. Check here before purchasing a book on
Amazon. I have been able to find popular
titles for less than $5! They offer brand
new books and educational resources that have been donated by their publishing
partners and are available to First Book Members for the cost of shipping &
handling. I hope that one day First Book
will work with DonorsChoose!!!
I
hope these ideas will help build your classroom
library. What other ways have you used to secure funds for purchasing classroom books?
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