Cost:
varies

Description:
Consider donating a book to the teacher's classroom or the school's library.

When our spring book fair rolled around, we asked each teacher to make a wish list of books at the fair that they would like to have for their classroom. Sometimes they were hoping to have multiple copies of a single title for group reading projects. We urged them to note that on the wish list.

We posted the wish list at the book fair. Parents referred to it and crossed off the book(s) they had purchased. School book fair programs offer many expensive books in soft cover versions that are at a very economical price. We saw increased sales at the book fair which benefited the school's library. Parents liked the program so much they would arrive at the book fair asking to see the list.

Alternatively, if your child had a favorite unit of study, look for a book on that subject. Donate it to the school's library in the teacher's honor. Bookstores can be very helpful in locating just the right book.

Our teachers were quite happy with this program. They were able to build their classroom collections with resources that supported their reading goals. At Christmas the PTO donated a book in honor of each staff member to the school's library. We purchased those books at our fall book fair.

This approach achieves many positive goals. It acknowledges the staff. It bolsters the classroom resources. It shows children we prize reading and books enough to give one as a gift. Finally, it grows the library's collection.

Ask any teacher, they'll tell you there is nothing like a good book.