With these funds I will purchase books to expand my classroom library. I believe the best way to get better at reading is to read, so I encourage (and require) students to read choice books throughout the school year. Many students have limited access to books at home and my school does not have an official library, so I want to have a wide selection of books available right in my classroom. That way students have no excuse to not read ("Go get a book off the shelf," I say if they have forgotten their book during independent reading time) and can hopefully find something that matches their interests and will kindle (or continue) their love of reading.

My school is a Title I school, so many students do not have the resources to go out and purchase books on their own. Many of them have no idea what is available. (This past year a student asked me where she could buy an ACT study book. "At a bookstore," I replied. "We have those in Memphis?" she asked with a quizzical look.) I want to showcase all of this and encourage my students to be lifelong readers. 

To keep costs down, I purchase only used books for my classroom library. This past year I had about 160 books in my collection. Students lost some of these, and I want to expand my library further, so I would like to purchase 100 additional books. I am estimating that each book costs $5 (some are cheaper, some are more expensive - I will post how many I was able to purchase with whatever funds I raise). That totals up to $500, to which I added the 8% fee rate, for a total of $540. 

Please help me fill my classroom with books! 

Back Up Plan