A fellow Librarian in Hayward lent this wonderful information as an alternative to Scholastic Book Fairs. He found the Scholastic book Fairs were "too much work for too little profit, poor selection of books, and no on-site support". He decided to go with Usborne Books. Usborne's read-a-thon's are called "Reach For the Stars". He says, "It is a very easy program". He found that "Since (his) school serves urban, low income students and their families (his) fund raising goals were to put a variety of interesting books at various levels in my students hands > that they chosen". Here is his plan of action for any TL looking to sponsor a Read-A-Thon:
-Call Usborne books
-Decide on 10 days for read-a-thon and put it on school calendar.
-Get PTA and staff to buy in. Set a fund raising goal.
-Advertise! Try school news letters, library news letters, classroom newletters, posters, banners, PTA meetings, local newspaper, etc.
-Make enough copies of the sponsor sheet, reading log, and parent letter. Stuff into manilla envelope of for each student to participate and pass out on day one. Some students will not fund raise and that's fine - it is a parent's decision. Students do however have to do their daily reading and turn in their reading log at the end of the 10 days. We found that making labels with student name and classroom number was quite helpful to be put on students envelope when they cam back.
-Advertise and cheer lead Daily!
-When the students come to the library teach students to read the Usborne book catalog and make their wish lists. I wrote a lesson plan for elem. students that I will share, just email me. Feel free to modify for middle and high school.
-After the 10 days of reading, student turn in all the paperwork and money; get PTA and/ or teachers to help count and verify money. (write the name of the student on the memo line of any checks in > case of any problems)
-Pull wish lists and use to order books for student and teachers.
-Usborne Books rep places book order and about a week later books arrive, get unpacked /sorted.
-Bags get filled with correct books fall those who raised funds.>
-Students who read but didn't fund raise get a certificate of participation.
-Teachers also get their book bags for the classroom libraries. For more info contact Mr. Walters at Ruus Elem. School Library Hayward, CA arpw@onlinepw.com
-Decide on 10 days for read-a-thon and put it on school calendar.
-Get PTA and staff to buy in. Set a fund raising goal.
-Advertise! Try school news letters, library news letters, classroom newletters, posters, banners, PTA meetings, local newspaper, etc.
-Make enough copies of the sponsor sheet, reading log, and parent letter. Stuff into manilla envelope of for each student to participate and pass out on day one. Some students will not fund raise and that's fine - it is a parent's decision. Students do however have to do their daily reading and turn in their reading log at the end of the 10 days. We found that making labels with student name and classroom number was quite helpful to be put on students envelope when they cam back.
-Advertise and cheer lead Daily!
-When the students come to the library teach students to read the Usborne book catalog and make their wish lists. I wrote a lesson plan for elem. students that I will share, just email me. Feel free to modify for middle and high school.
-After the 10 days of reading, student turn in all the paperwork and money; get PTA and/ or teachers to help count and verify money. (write the name of the student on the memo line of any checks in > case of any problems)
-Pull wish lists and use to order books for student and teachers.
-Usborne Books rep places book order and about a week later books arrive, get unpacked /sorted.
-Bags get filled with correct books fall those who raised funds.>
-Students who read but didn't fund raise get a certificate of participation.
-Teachers also get their book bags for the classroom libraries. For more info contact Mr. Walters at Ruus Elem. School Library Hayward, CA arpw@onlinepw.com
1 comment:
Hi again,
This is an off topic comment. I'm curious about the librarymum link you show here on your blog. I call myself librarymum, but it looks like someone else is using this name too. Do you know who this is? My blog is named PageSpace here on blogger and librarymum is the name of my avatar. You and I were classmates in 530A and 510 this past year, but I don't have your email to contact you directly, so I'm writing to you here. It's great reading your blog and it's been fun being your peer cheerleader.
Janet
Librarymum of PageSpace
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