Do you have books that don’t belong anywhere in your library? Well, I definitely did! There were several books that just wouldn’t fit into a category like I wanted, or I had several of that category already. So, I decided to start putting those books to the side until I had saved up a little over 100 books. This past year, I was able to take those 100 books and turn them into my “Book Buddies.” I can have up to 22 students in my class, so I made enough for a full class. There are 22 bags with 5 books in each one. My students take a new book bag home on Monday to read throughout the week. Here are some pictures of my book bags:
Hope you find this helpful for your classroom! Do you send home books weekly or have any other ideas? Please share!
Hey, y’all! My name is Amy Lemons and I am passionate about providing students with both engaging and effective standards-based Math and ELA lessons.
Sample a day of Rooted in Reading with these lesson plans and activities for Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Grammar!
37 Responses
I am soooo interested in this– I hate the books I have that just sit around- not leveled, not for a theme & not for a read aloud lesson– this sounds like the perfect solution. definitely one of those “why didn't I think of that” ideas. my only problem is that the last read 20 min document won't open in google docs… help please!
Wow! what a fabulous system. Where have you been hiding before this past month. Thank you Thank you!!
I can't get 20 min. one to open though.
Have a great night.
Lessons Learned
I'm sorry! I tried to link it up again. If it still doesn't work I can email it to you. Just email me at [email protected] and I will send it to you! Sorry for the inconvenience! Sometimes technology is not on my side!
Sydney- thanks so much! Is it crazy that I didn't even know teacher blogs existed until last month! I don't know what I did before hahaha
I'll have to give this a go! Thanks.
Denise
Yearn to Learn Blog
This is such a great idea! Now I just need some bags. Thanks!
These are awesome. Thanks for sharing them with all of us!
Because you are clearly more creative than I…what are some other ideas for bags that are umm, a bit cheaper?? And what do you do w/ that kid that says “I read all my books already” on Tuesday???
Super idea! I'm in the process of organizing my Read Alouds and wasn't sure what to do with my extra books 🙂
Great idea! I've done take home bags before, but never with more than a couple of books at a time. I have collected the $1 bags from Target…and they are awesome- lots of different styles..themes. I have Dr Seuss ones and even M. Sendak ones! Can't wait to use them with your idea!
Kristy- try Oriental Trading
http://www.orientaltrading.com/large-nonwoven-bright-tote-bags-a2-14_69.fltr?prodCatId=388632&tabId=1
They have several different options for tote bags. Instead of doing embroidery, you could either use a fabric/permanent marker, or just make a tag to put around the handle with ribbon.
Love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
Tammy
Live Love Laugh Everyday In Kindergarten
The totes are adorable! I also send home the letter regarding the 20 mins a night of reading. I'm so glad you had luck with books being returned–I do reading homework with my kiddos and some kids just didn't read or return books. I had to stop sending books home with them. It's usually only 2-3 kiddos though. Thanks for sharing!
Stacee
Hey Amy – I saw you mention a fabric marker to someone – I wanted to also suggested an iron on transfer. They make them that you can run through your printer and then you just iron it on. I did this with a drawing my kid made on all of our field day shirts. hmmm, maybe i'll have to post about that too.
Lessons Learned
Thanks for sharing all of these resources! I especially like the 20 Minutes page – that is an awesome way to encourage parents to read with their kids. I will definitely have that out on Open House night. 🙂 Thanks again!
Magnificent Multiagers!
Wow- I LOVE THIS! thanks for linking up I already have enough books, and I was thinking about permanent bags for these. Maybe it is time to whip out that sewing machine.
Tiffani
Time 4 Kindergarten
What great resources! We have a reading program in our school where each child is given a bag with 3 books to be read at home. The books go home on Mondays and Thursdays. Sadly,many times many of the books are not returned, parents don't care about reading to their kids. It is so important to get the parents involved in reading to their kids and knowing the importance of reading. I can't wait to use these next year!!
http://teachingmaketheworld.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much!!
Lesson Plan Diva
Thank you so much for sharing! I can't wait to try this.
dbednars
Thanks for sharing the Dear Parents Letter! I love that! SaylorsLog
LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea!! I have so many books that (like you said) just don't fit anywhere in my classroom library. This is genius!
My question is…how do you store the bags? You said the kids return them on Thursday and take them home again on Monday; what do you do with them while they're in your classroom? Do you have a place to hang them? Also, do you have a good system for checking to make sure all the materials have been returned?
Thanks so much!!
~Jodi
Thank you so much for a great post. I LOVE that letter to parents about reading 20 min a day… black and white… sometimes the truth hurts… but it's not too late for our little second graders. Thanks for the great ideas.
Lory
Lory's Page
I just stumbled across your blog and can't believe I hadnt found it sooner! Awesome ideas!
What a great blog…so many ideas I don't know where to begin. I love your book buddies idea and was wondering if you had the parent letter and the read 20 minutes letter in spanish as I also have some ELL students in my class. Thanks!
No, I don't have it in Spanish! Sorry 🙁
This is such a fabulous idea. I have so many books I didn't know what to do with too! Now I'm ordering canvas bags from ingreetings.com. They seem sturdy and they're $4.95 a piece. I was going to do Oriental Trading, but thought I'd be wasting money…I only want to buy these once.
I'm going to start my book buddies in January since my 2nd graders are starting to show a little more responsibility bringing home/returning 1 book per day.
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. I wish I found your blog sooner!
Are kids also allowed to check out other books during the week if they finish those books? I have some students that will read chapter books but it takes them a few weeks to read them so I wouldn't want to put them in the bags. Also, there are more than 22 weeks in the year. Do you change out book after everyone has read all of the bags?
I was looking for reading comprehension strategies for reading when I came across this post. I was inspired to blog about it at http://begborrowandteach.blogspot.com/2012/03/reading-comprehension-bookmarks-freebie.html
and I became your newest follower!
Hi,
I subscribe to your TPT page and have enjoyed using the great resources that you have created! I would love a copy of the reading 20 min. a night letter. I couldn't get it to download from the link. My email address is [email protected].
I have switched from minutes to 20 pages for my 3rd graders because I found that some students were reading 40 pgs. in 20 min. and some were being lazy and only reading 3. They now summarize or respond in their logs for every 20 pages of a book.
What a fabulous idea! Where have you been all my life?!?! Could you please email me all the Book Buddy documents? I cannot get them to open. Thank you!
[email protected]
Hi This is fantastic!!! I'm going to start this in August for the new school year! Could you please please send me the Book Buddy Checkout Form? I couldn't open it in Google Docs? And could you possibly please please send me the Book Buddy letter with Permission slip in Word format so I can edit it please??? I teach Pre-K and want to modify it to work for my grade level. Please let me know if you can do this, I would greatly appreciate it. email: [email protected] Thank you!
I would love a copy!
[email protected]
Thank you, this is great idea. I will test it here in Finland. I`m teaching also second graders (eight years old girls and boys). I have very good readers, but there is always some lazy pupils and parents 🙂 – and they need some fresh view. I just translate your facts in finnish. Very good schoolyear to you and your students. 🙂 Sari from Finland
I love the 20 minutes form! May I have permission to share with the other 3 fourth grade teachers at my school?
Thank you for this wonderful program. Would you be willing to send me the docs? I can't find the green “direction” sheet I see in your book buddy picture up top. I love this and can't wait to get started! Thanks again!
[email protected]
Would you be willing to email me the docs for the Book Buddy Bookmarks and the 20 minutes a night? I teach 1st grade in a spanish speaking school and love your documents but need to provide them in Spanish as well as English. My email is [email protected].
Thank you!
Sheri Blades
Napa, CA
Amy, I really enjoy reading all your ideas! This is a great idea, however, I'm reluctant to allow my students to take the books home with them. I too have a large collection of books from which I can incorporate this idea but thinking I might just try it on a temporary basis with cheaper bags and maybe only 3 books to see if the students return them. I teach at a title 1 school and many of the students NEED an incentive like this BUT the likelihood of getting the books back is sketchy. I'm up for trying it though. I think it's an excellent suggestion!
There are 22 bags with 5 books in each one. My students take a new book bag home on Monday to read throughout the week. Here are some … ebookbags.blogspot.com