I’ve been teaching middle school English for over 20 years and like other veteran educators have seen movements start, end, get repackaged, and begin again with renewed vigor. One of the things I know for sure: nothing beats recreational reading.
It’s one thing to know this and another to know and apply classroom practices fostering a genuine love of books. Having a robust classroom library is a must, not a luxury. Yes, I’m lucky to be in a school with a fantastic library. Even luckier to have a supportive, energetic librarian. But having books right there to put in the hands of a reader at the right moment? That’s where the magic happens.
The magic of hearing a girl tell me after reading Linda Sue Park‘s A Single Shard, “This book was so great. I’ve never read about a character from Korea like me.” The magic of having self-professed haters of books arguing over who gets to read Kwame Alexander‘s Booked first. The magic of reshelving a book that didn’t work and pulling three or four others that just might.
It’s taken me years to build my classroom library, and I’ve used all the tricks other teachers do: Scholastic warehouse sales and bonus points, donations from students at the end of the year, pitches to our parents’ organization for funding. My library takes constant maintenance, too. Every year’s students are different. Last year, my readers could not get enough graphic novels. This year, realistic fiction reigns king. Even though Kiera Cass‘s Selection was replaced mid-way through last year, it’s time to replace it again. Loved books show their wear quickly, evidence that having these books makes a difference.
Chances are, I don’t need to sell you on the value of reading. We know wide reading improves vocabulary and test scores and all sorts of other great academic things. What we also know is that reading quality fiction improves students’ empathy (a subject for a future post). Reading makes people better.
In Ascension Parish, where I began my teaching career, classroom libraries are about to serve an even more elevated function. Three flooded schools will make a new home for themselves in the River Parish Community College. Because they will not have a library, teachers will be completely reliant on their classroom collections.
In my home parish, Brookstown Middle School took on 5 feet of water. 15 teachers lost their classroom libraries. Their 300 students will join those at Scotlandville Middle School, and along with flexibility and patience, those students and teachers will need books. They need Matt de la Pena and Jacqueline Woodson, Laurie Halse Anderson and Sharon Flake. They need voices that mirror their experiences, voices that give them windows into a world beyond their own.
For this to happen, they need you. Please consider shopping from the Amazon Wish Lists included on this site. Librarians are ready to accept donations, and teachers are gearing up for the new challenges that await.
I have books that I would like to donate. Where can I bring them?
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Are you in the Baton Rouge area?
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Is it possible to collect donations of gently-used booksand ship them, instead of shopping from the Amazon wish lists?
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I think as long as they are in good shape and books kids love reading, yes. We do want to avoid sending things teachers don’t actually want. The middle school is especially wanting books reflecting their student population, which is mostly African-American. I’ll send you the addresses.
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This is good to hear. I used to read Christopher Paul Curtis books aloud to my children. I will definitely be looking for those to send!
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Please send me the addresses too! I would like to donate some gently used books too!
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If you’ll send me an email at guariscom@ehsbr.org, I can send you the addresses. Thanks so much for your interest in helping us rebuild.
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Is there a shipping address I can use for the Amazon wish list so the books go direct to the school or similar?
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The Amazon lists are set up to deliver directly to the schools in need. If you’d rather purchase elsewhere or have gently used copies of these or similar titles, I can message you the addresses.
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Can you also send me the address of Brookstown? I sent some from the Amazon list to Ascension but think I have quite a few on my own shelves (new!) that would fit the population of the other school.
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I sent you this through your website. Thanks so much!
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i have some books like learn German, how to teach drama and other history books i would like to donate. Are you still accepting book donations? If so, how do I deliver them to you? I live in the Baton Rouge area.
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I’m working specifically to rebuild libraries for student use. Those sound like they might be more appropriate for teachers. I’ll ask around and see who might be able to use those kinds of resources.
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Thanks.
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A friend shared the Advocate article on Facebook. I wondered if you are familiar with Fifth Street Books. They don’t do specific titles lists, but they do put together age-appropriate collections. You might find it worthwhile to check out their website: http://fifthstreetbooks.com/index.html
Best of luck in your endeavor!
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Thanks! I will definitely check it out.
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