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Goal

My goal for this project is to provide a free book to every student in our school, once a year. As a teacher/parent, I know the importance of students having books to call their own and to read and enjoy at home. Every year, our school runs a book fair. This is a wonderful, exciting event for everyone, but unfortunately, many children do not have the funds to be able to purchase a book of their own. This situation inspired me, 4 years ago, to brainstorm a way to run an event, on the same day as book fair, that would allow every single student to come and pick out a "gently-used-new-to-me" book for their very own. I wasn't sure how it would work the first year, and I funded it myself and ran all over town rounding up books that people generously would donate to my cause. Well, it was an amazing success and I have done it every year since. I keep a big Rubbermaid tub in the Media Center of our school and students are encouraged to donate books throughout the school year. My part is to check and sort those books, organize them by reading levels, put together the event and run the event, along with trying to also purchase books to supplement donations. The donations are typically lower grade level books, which is wonderful, but I've found that I need to add in intermediate level chapter books and non-fiction books to make it interesting for the 4th and 5th graders.
I've been so very grateful for the Champions for Learning grant over the last 2 years! It's been a tremendous help and the smiles that are on the students' faces when they find a great-fit book for themselves are amazing! I even donate one of my own personal days in order to run the event, because it is so meaningful to me.  

What will be done with my students

Every single student in the building will be able to come in and choose a "new to them" book from my "Read, Recycle, ReUse" book swap event. I also provide some books to the media center specialist to use during book fair for students who very much in need. This works out wonderfully and really lifts students up!

Last year, I had my 5th graders get involved with this project by having them make posters to promote the event and solicit donations and they also wrote and produced a commercial to advertise the event! It was so much fun for them and they loved getting involved, because most of them had great experiences from prior years at the book event!

This will be my 4th year running this event and I'm just as excited now as I was the first time around! 

Benefits to my students

Last year, over 500 students benefitted from this event. Some students have not a single book of their own at home, so it's even more meaningful to them. And the amazing thing is that some of those students, who have so little, will donate their book the next year! It's just an amazing thing to see students get excited, both about a new book, but also about coming together as a school community to share their love of reading books! 

Budget Narrative

All books purchased through Ebay will be for intermediate level books and chapter books.  

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