Spring, 2002, No. 12 National Network of Partnership Schools
Books-to-Go Increases Interest in Reading and Student Personal Libraries
At the Early Childhood Center #90 in Buffalo, NY, the Reading Action Team created Books-to-Go to increase students’ reading skills. The purpose was:
To increase parent awareness of the reading skills needed at each grade level;
To improve student reading skills and test scores;
To increase student interest in reading; and
To increase the number of books that students have at home.
One of the teachers on the Reading Action Team started the Books-to-Go book cart with a donation of twenty dollars. Other members of the team collected gently used books and monetary donations for new books. After establishing the cart, volunteer staff visited each classroom once a week so that students could buy books. All books were priced at fifty cents, regardless of the original purchase price. The Reading Action Team added a second cart so that one cart serves grades pre-k and kindergarten, and one cart serves grades 1 and 2. The two carts carry diverse selections to match children’s interests and reading abilities.
The Reading Action Team sent a letter to teachers explaining Books-to-Go and requesting that they mention the program in their communications with parents. Parents also received a letter informing them about the developmental learning needs of early childhood, particularly the importance of reading to children and having quality, level-appropriate books at home for children.
Funds Support the Program
All proceeds from the book sales benefit the Books-to-Go program. The Reading Action Team continues to seek sources of donations. In the past, Books-to-Go has received donations from Lancaster High School’s Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and the Student Union. “We have been so fortunate with the donations to our Books-to-Go program,” said Jean Polino, principal.
Students and Families Respond
Children and parents have increased their interest in books because of Books-to-Go. Children often choose to spend their ice cream money on books. As many as 150 books have been bought and taken home by children in one week. Because of the great demand, the team had to limit purchases to two books per child per week. Records show that in the past two years, Books-to-Go has enriched students’ homes with over 5,000 books! Collaboration between the school and the community can help provide books to students at any grade level and increase positive feelings about reading.
Adapted from: Promising Partnership Practices—2001, National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University.
