5 years ago I made the switch from teaching 4th grade to Kindergarten. I packed up my classroom library full of chapter books and non fiction books and stored them in boxes where they have sat till this summer when I started selling them off online. Which got me to thinking about the hundreds and hundreds of dollars I spent on growing my library.
5 years ago I took the 10 Kindergarten appropriate books I had from my collection and started to grow my classroom library for much cheaper. I maybe spent $25 total on my Kindergarten library...$50 tops. So how did I do it for such a cheap amount the second time? Here are my 7 tips:
1. Check out Garage Sales.
There are many teachers that have garage sales after they retire and are selling off their books. Families with children are another great stop. You can often find books for 25 or 50 cents.
2. Check out Online Garage Sales via Facebook
I love this option because I don’t need to leave my house. About once a week someone is selling books for pretty cheap. I am a member of teacher garage sale group that has some good finds of other teacher items too. I am also a member of online garage sales in the town I live in and our neighboring towns to give me a few more options.
3. Visit Library Book Sales
A couple times of a year libraries tend to have sales where they sell off used books for under $1. If your town library doesn’t have one check other libraries. I love to get hardcover books here because they tend to last longer. Check out your local library's website for details.
4. Become friends with retiring teachers
After my first couple of years I became friends with teachers that were in their last year of teaching. On several occasions they just gave me boxes of books they didn’t want to save. I also had teachers that changed grade levels that gave me some of their books. This is a great free way to get books.
5. Use Scholastic Book Orders in your classroom
Here is a great way to get free and cheap new books for your room and a great way to get books into your student's homes. When parents purchase books through your classroom flyer, you earn bonus points to spend on books for your class library. The more parents order, the more free books you receive. The flyer even features a $1 book each month. You can also ask Parents to donate books through Scholastic’s wish list.
6. Visit used bookstores like Half Price Books
This is not the cheapest way to buy books, but it is an easy way to get titles you may need for cheaper prices. I like this option because their books are organized, and it is easy to see if they have the title you are looking for. I often used this option when I need a picture book or some chapter books for guided reading. They also have a clearance section and sometimes you can find some good treasures there. As a bonus, teachers get 10% off. Half Price Books will also consider donation requests for educators. You can find the form here.
7. Simply Ask.
Sometimes it pays to just ask. Your friends may have books at home they would be happy to donate. Be sure to be specific of what grade level you are looking for. Be sure to emphasize that they should be gently used.
What are some other ways you acquire books for your classroom library? Leave your suggestions below.
