How to Build Your Classroom Library
How to Build Your Classroom Library
We recently posted an article titled Let’s Talk Classroom Libraries . In it, we detailed the benefits of reading and having a diverse classroom library. You might be thinking, that’s all well and good, but how in the heck am I going to build this classroom library? Never fear! Here at The Teaching Distillery, we have a few tricks up our sleeves to get your empty book shelves filled in no time.
Scholastic Points are a teacher’s best friend. The beginning of the year is a flurry of excitement. You’re going over your classroom rules and expectations, you’re getting to know each and every one of your 90+ students (What? You have less?? Lucky, lucky you!) September rolls around, and you are now in the thick of it. Look. Listen. You absolutely must pass out those beautiful, colorful, Scholastic book flyers the first week of September. You must go over the books within those flyer pages with your students. You highlight all of the amazingness listed on those four or five pages, and friend, you sell, sell, sell, the living shiz out of those books. Your goal is to get 300 dollars in orders. If you do so, you will receive 10,000 points to purchase a ton of new books for your classroom library.
Another great way to get new books onto the shelves of your class library, is by writing a grant through Donor’s Choose. There is a bit of a time commitment up front, however, once the first grant has been written, you can modify it and use the same grant again and again to add books to your classroom library. The one thing that we do like about Donors Choose is that you can pick the books that you wish to purchase for your class library. Donors Choose provides you with a variety of vendors that they work with, one of them being Amazon, another is AKJ Books.
If you aren’t afraid of hopping in your car and perusing the local thrift stores in and around your community, you can find a treasure trove of books for your classroom library. Thrift stores can be hit or miss, so you may need to make frequent visits. Hey, you may even be able to find some cute vintage dresses while you’re there! Win-win!
We know that it can be difficult and daunting to begin building your classroom library. One way that you can get some books on your shelves is by getting your students and parents involved. Your avid readers will be happy to donate the books that they have read. They love sharing the books that have brought joy to their lives with their peers. Wanna pull a real boss move, have your stunts also give a quick book talk on the books that they are donating. You will have a line of students waiting to check out the new books! Also, parents will be happy to hand off some of the books that are gathering dust in their homes. Make way for boxes of donations, friend!
Our local library does book sales multiple times throughout the year. This is where the library is trying to make room for new books that they have purchased. The books they are selling are usually in great condition and are less than a dollar. I have found tons of young adult books when visiting my local library book sales. This is a sure fire way to begin filling up your shelves.
Last, but definitely not least, is applying for a Half Price Book donation. If you have a Half Price Book store in or around you, we highly encourage you to apply for a donation. Pro Tip: instead of submitting the donation request form online, print it out and bring it in, in person. Make sure to call ahead and let them know who you are, and that you will be stopping by. It may take them a few days to gather the books for you, but expect to leave with boxes, and I mean multiple boxes, filled with amazing Young Adult books. You can also let them know the grade level you are looking for, and they will modify their selections for you accordingly.
So, dear readers, we would love to know how these tips and tricks worked for you! Do you have a surefire way of adding books to your class library that we did not mention? We would love to hear from you. Drop a comment below, and as always, we would love it if you share, share away! Sharing is caring!
Bottoms Up!