For Teachers and Administrators in Underserved Districts
Our core mission focuses on improving literacy by giving all children the means to build their own personal libraries. We define a child's library as consisting of 100 books minimum. Right now, approximately 2,000 children in Lindenwold, and around New Jersey are selecting scores of their own books for free. We are well on our way to collecting hundreds of thousands of books for our kids!
Your school district probably has the manpower, resources, and storage space to do this.
Your school district probably has the manpower, resources, and storage space to do this.
The Formula For Success Is Simple
A 50% or more student population on free or reduced lunch means that your district is ready for BookSmiles Pop-Up Book Fairs. Here is how it's been done:
1. Any teacher, or group of teachers, in a school can start collecting gently used children's books by spreading word among friends, parents, and social media groups. Contact us if you wish to use BookSmiles materials for promotion.
2. Designate a classroom, or two, to serve as a collection center in which you can temporarily store and sort books into the following age-appropriate levels (students can help sort and count):
Baby/Toddler
PreK/Kindergarten
Elementary
Middle School
High School
4. Throw away books that have been torn, chewed on, and scribbled in. Toss the yellowed, falling-apart, and out-of-date books. Keep the standards high!
3. Coordinate with administrators where and when to have pop-up book fairs in your district. When you get the go-ahead, make sure to display the books, just like the major publishers repeatedly done. Pop-up book fairs happening as school lets out are perfect if you have lots of walkers and parents.
4. Have bags on hand so that children can go "shopping" for what they like! Ask retail outlets like Target, Walmart, or grocery stores to donate bags.
5. Make sure that your kids take books home for siblings, other relatives, and neighbors. Holiday times and birthdays are perfect for this, but any time will do. Think of fresh ways to move the books out of the school and into hands and homes.
6. It's helpful for language arts teachers to give ample opportunity for the children to feature what they're reading in booktalks and show-and-tells at least once per week.
7. Inspire parents to find ways to make books and reading part of home life.
8. Have fun! Giving piles of books away to grateful children is exciting and gratifying!
1. Any teacher, or group of teachers, in a school can start collecting gently used children's books by spreading word among friends, parents, and social media groups. Contact us if you wish to use BookSmiles materials for promotion.
2. Designate a classroom, or two, to serve as a collection center in which you can temporarily store and sort books into the following age-appropriate levels (students can help sort and count):
Baby/Toddler
PreK/Kindergarten
Elementary
Middle School
High School
4. Throw away books that have been torn, chewed on, and scribbled in. Toss the yellowed, falling-apart, and out-of-date books. Keep the standards high!
3. Coordinate with administrators where and when to have pop-up book fairs in your district. When you get the go-ahead, make sure to display the books, just like the major publishers repeatedly done. Pop-up book fairs happening as school lets out are perfect if you have lots of walkers and parents.
4. Have bags on hand so that children can go "shopping" for what they like! Ask retail outlets like Target, Walmart, or grocery stores to donate bags.
5. Make sure that your kids take books home for siblings, other relatives, and neighbors. Holiday times and birthdays are perfect for this, but any time will do. Think of fresh ways to move the books out of the school and into hands and homes.
6. It's helpful for language arts teachers to give ample opportunity for the children to feature what they're reading in booktalks and show-and-tells at least once per week.
7. Inspire parents to find ways to make books and reading part of home life.
8. Have fun! Giving piles of books away to grateful children is exciting and gratifying!