One of the best ways to support our students' or childrens' love for reading is to have books, magazines, and any other form of text around the house or classroom. With the economy the way it is these days, it may be more difficult to rationalize $6+ for one book. However, there are ways around the growing expense of books that can help you build your library.
Why have a library in the house or classroom? Why not just go to the school library or public library? I highly encourage you to continue to use the libraries around you. We need to keep them going, and it is a great experience for kids to see all those books and choose whatever they want. The reasons for public libraries is the same for classroom and home libraries. We want children to have instant access to print and to choose what they want to read. Having a personal library also shows children to care for and respect their books. It also gives them a personal connection to reading, especially if they have been able to choose the books that go in the library.
As a teacher, I am obsessed about the classroom library. After 6 years, I now have hundreds of books. How? There are so many ways!
I have become a lover of second-hand shops. Have you ever looked in the book section? There are so many books that go unnoticed! Yes, some are old school, Dick and Jane books, but look beyond. You will find great literature and lots of popular book series. One day, I found almost an entire Berenstein Bears collection. And what normally goes for at least $3.99, they were only 99 cents apiece! I bought every single one.
Book clubs. Scholastic has a great program for schools. Teachers can send home flyers for students to buy books, and for each order, teachers earn bonus points that can be used to get books for FREE! It doesn't get much better than that. For parents, the prices of books in the scholastic flyers are significantly cheaper than the bookstore. And it's like getting a package in the mail for kids- when the box of books comes to the school, they can't wait for the teacher to open it up!
Yard sales. Just like the second-hand shops, many people begin to sell their children's old books because they feel they don't need them anymore. And yard sales give you even more bang for your buck. Some books will most likely be less than a dollar! Don't worry about students or kids not liking used books. They love them the same!
Library sales. Many times, libraries will have sales of books. Check your local library for these great opportunities.
To store the books you collect, you don't need fancy bookshelves or elaborate room plans. Just get some buckets and begin collecting!
Having books around the house and classroom will develop more love for reading. Take the chance to build up your library, and always, let the kids decide what they want when possible.
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