• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Advertising
  • Write for Us
  • Job Board
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Consulting
    • Advertising
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Shirts

The Educators Room logo

  • Start Here
    • Impact Statements: Teacher Expertise
    • Newsletter
  • Browse Topics
    • Content Strategies
      • Literacy
      • Mathematics
      • Social Studies
      • Educational Technology
      • ELL & ESOL
      • Fine Arts
      • Special Education
      • Popular Topics
        • Teacher Self-Care
        • Instructional Coach Files
        • Common Core
        • The Traveling Teacher
        • The Unemployed Teacher
        • The New Teacher Chronicles
        • Book Review
        • Grade Levels
          • Elementary (K-5)
          • Middle (6-8)
          • Adult
          • New Teacher Bootcamp
          • Hot Button Topics
            • Menu Item
              • Principals' Corner
              • Charter Schools
              • Confessions of a Teacher
              • Interviews
              • The State of Education
              • Stellar Educator of the Week
            • Menu
              • How to Fix Education
              • Featured
              • Ask a Teacher
              • Teacher Branding
              • Current Events
  • Podcasts
  • Courses
    • Practicing Self-Care to Avoid Teacher Burnout- An 8 Week Course
    • Becoming An Educational Consultant
    • Teacher Branding 101:Teachers are The Experts
    • The Learning Academy
    • Books
    • Shirts
  • Education in Atlanta
  • Teacher Self-Care
  • The Coach's Academy
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Advertising
  • Write for Us
  • Job Board
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Consulting
    • Advertising
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Shirts
×

June 3, 2015 Current Events in Education

How to Build a Classroom Library on a Barely-There Budget

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Katie Sluiter

Katie Sluiter is currently an 8th English teacher in West Michigan. She has taught middle school, high school, and community college and has her Masters Degree and is currently working on her doctoral degree in Teaching English. Her writing has been featured on Writers Who Care, The Nerdy Book Club, and Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday. She is a member of the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE), the Michigan Council of Teachers of English (MCTE) and ALAN (the Assembly on Literature of Adolescents of the NCTE). She is a National Writing Project participant, has presented at both state and national conferences, and has been published in the Language Arts Journal of Michigan multiple times.
  • Shaking Up Short Stories - August 8, 2019
  • Ditch the Summer Reading Requirements - July 19, 2019
  • Celebrate Pride With Your Classroom Library - June 26, 2019
  • Bringing Climate Change into the E/LA Classroom - May 20, 2019
  • YA Books for Mental Health Awareness - October 8, 2018
  • Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Book Talks - September 26, 2018
  • 180 Days: Writing and Reading Maps and Mentors for A Year in ELA - September 16, 2018
  • Teaching Immigration Empathy: Why Refugee by Alan Gratz Should Be Added To Your Curriculum - July 8, 2018
  • Coaching the Coaches: the Benefits of Instructional Coaches - January 28, 2018
  • Six-Word Memoirs as an Introduction to Narrative Writing - September 24, 2017

After attending a Penny Kittle workshop in spring of 2014, I decided that I wanted to radically change the reading/literature instruction in my twelfth grade English class by setting up a Reader's Workshop. In order to do that, I needed a classroom library. In fact, I needed an extensive classroom library if I wanted the RW to work. The problem was I had 104 titles--many out of date--and no money.

I teach in a Title 1 district, and asking my principal or the board for money was out of the question. I didn't want to request Title 1 funds either because I really wanted the books to be mine. I wanted to be able to take them with me wherever I was in the district (or if anything happened to my position, I wanted the books to come with me).

As a teacher and a mom to three small kids (one who is only 12-weeks old), I don't have extra money lying around to put into a starter library either. But I needed those books. The more I thought about it, the more determined I became that the key to turning around all those reluctant and non-readers in my classes was tons and tons of glorious books at their finger tips.

The first thing I did was hop on Amazon and create a Classroom Library Wishlist. I took all the books Kittle had mentioned that day along with a bunch of my favorites and I put them on the list. Then I asked my current students what authors and books they liked. And I asked our media center specialist (who is always very up-to-date on what the hot YA lit books are) and I added her suggestions.  Then I wrote about my dream of the classroom library on my own blog. And I shared on Facebook. And Twitter. And by word-of-mouth.

Then a crazy thing happened. People gave. They gave a LOT.

In less than a month I quadrupled my titles from 104 to over 400. I came home to Amazon boxes daily for over a month. People sent me their used books as well. People gave money and gift cards to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

I also applied for the Book Love Foundation Grant. I didn't win the 500 books, but I was a runner-up and was awarded $500 towards books. Before the official paperwork came through for me to place my book order, my teaching position changed. I went from teaching eleventh and twelfth grade to eighth grade. Most of the books that had been donated were for older readers, so I was fortunate to be able to place my Book Love order for more junior high-appropriate titles.

A year later, my library now boasts over 700 titles, and I'm still working on adding more. My students are constantly telling me what I "need to get" and I keep adding the titles to my Wish List.

When I tell this story, many co-workers have said, "but I don't have a blog. Who is going to donate to me?" You would be surprised. One of my colleagues, a special ed teacher in our regional center, set up a Wish List as well and put out the call on Facebook. She doesn't have a blog or a Facebook fanpage and she still received tons of books proving that the books don't have to come from around the country to still come.

If you want to build a classroom library without school funds, this is what I suggest:

  • Create an Amazon Wishlist
  • Routinely scope out thrift shops, garage sales, used book stores, and library sales
  • Hit up warehouse sales like the Scholastic Warehouse Sale
  • Be public about your need: Facebook, church bulletin, etc.
  • Apply for grants like the Book Love Foundation
  • Let your students' families know you take used books

An extensive, well-loved classroom library doesn't just have to be a dream. It doesn't have to be something that affluent districts have. People love to give books.

You just have to ask.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailEngaging Parents From School To Home Taking the Anxiety Out of Student Placement in Special Education The Importance of Communication For IEP Students and Parents Respect in the Classroom: Earned, Not Expected
« Why Teachers Leave - and Possible Solutions
Before that last school bell rings: How to sustain yourself as a professional »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

The Educator's Room was launched in 2012 to amplify the voice of educators. To date, we have over 45+ writers from around the world and boast over twelve million page views. Through articles, events, and social media we will advocate for honest dialogue with teachers about how to improve public education. This mission is especially important when reporting on education in our community; therefore, we commit our readers to integrity, accuracy, and independence in education reporting. To join our mailing list, click here.

What we do

At The Educator's Room, we focus on amplifying and honoring the voice of educators as experts in education. To date, we have over 40 staff writers/teachers from around the world.

Popular Posts

  • My Union Showed Up for Me, and I'll Never Forget It
  • Your Students Deserve a Diverse Classroom Library. Here's How to Set It Up.
  • You Don't Have to Watch the Tyre Nichols Video, But Be Ready to Talk About It
  • "Let's Make This Happen": Following Student Interests to Interest-Based Mentorships

Featured On

Buy Our Books/Courses

How to Leave Your Job in Education

Practicing Self-Care to Avoid Teacher Burnout

Using Your Teacher Expertise to Become an Educational Consultant

Check out our books on teaching and learning!

The Learning Academy

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

 

Copyright © 2021 The Educator's Room.