I started this blog shortly after beginning a one-year sabbatical. I wanted to see what would happen in my life if I actually had time to think, see, hear. In all my new-found open-mindedness, I never saw something like Books for Keeps coming.
So why pretend I'm still searching or experimenting? I will miss veggie-blogging and eco-blogging and workshop-blogging and all the rest of it, but the reality is: I'm all about Books for Keeps. As my hairdresser put it: "You're where the universe needs you right
now." I tend to think it's God, not the universe, but you get the idea.
I'm shelving Life is Good...Better...Best for now. I hope you'll visit me over at Books for Keeps every once in a while.
I'm having the time of my life doing something I would've called you crazy for suggesting just a year ago.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
We're gonna need a bigger boat.
Kay, one of this year's book donors, just sent me this article. It made me cry. Then I read it again and it gave me chills. Then I read it a third time and it made me think "I'VE GOT TO DO MORE!!!"
The article mentions a study that found giving books to kids to OWN - 12 each - at the beginning of summer, makes a difference in their future education. It also mentioned the feeling ownership gives a child.
I hope you'll read the article even if you're not on pins and needles each day to learn how many books I've gotten. There's proof out there that just owning some books makes a difference in these kids' lives.
Now: how am I going to give 12 books per child instead of 3? Oh my.
The article mentions a study that found giving books to kids to OWN - 12 each - at the beginning of summer, makes a difference in their future education. It also mentioned the feeling ownership gives a child.
I hope you'll read the article even if you're not on pins and needles each day to learn how many books I've gotten. There's proof out there that just owning some books makes a difference in these kids' lives.
Now: how am I going to give 12 books per child instead of 3? Oh my.
Friday, May 28, 2010
A new name for the Summer Satchel project
The way things are going, it seems a new name is in order. Friends sent in great suggestions for a new name; many of them were already in use elsewhere, but I settled on Books For Keeps. (Thank you Lori & Celia!)
I'm working on a separate blog for Books For Keeps, and a Facebook page. This is real, y'all!
I'm working on a separate blog for Books For Keeps, and a Facebook page. This is real, y'all!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Summer Satchel Action Shots
Yesterday was the big day: Alps rolled out the summer reading program and the students came and shopped for books.
It started with organizing the books. Parent volunteers took care of that. There were tables covered in chapter books for the older kids....
.... and a separate section for younger kids.
Volunteers were stuffing bags with information about the summer reading program.
Here's most of what was in each bag:
A list of recommended books, a sheet to tally the number of books read (with prizes listed for each level), a free book offer from Borders, pencils, erasers, a reading journal (where students could record a brief summary about each book), and a brand new book from the Alps Recommended Reading list.
We didn't have time to decorate the bags; next year we'll order them much earlier and have the kids do the decorating themselves.
When each class arrived, Mary would give them a bag and tell them about the summer reading program.
Then each student was allowed to choose 2 books to take home (in addition to the new book provided by the school). That's when the chaos began. The kids were so excited about the books, they swarmed the tables like we were giving away gold. Or candy. It was fun to watch.
Kids shopped for books and compared their finds. It was fun to hear them recommending books to each other.
The kindergarteners left a path of destruction behind, but it was fun to watch.
By the end of the day, it was clear what the students liked and didn't like.
The Goosebumps (85) and Junie B. Jones(94) inventory was completely wiped out and the kids were asking for more. Sports books and joke books were frequent requests, and we only had a few of each. Magic Treehouse was popular but there were a few left over. The 22 Captain Underpants books were gone after the first class visited, and every class except Kindergarten asked for them. I felt terrible not having enough. Harry Potter also went fast, but I only had 11 of those. And I only had 1 copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which might have been the most frequently requested book.
On the other hand, only 1 Nancy Drew book was taken, a big fat zero on Little House on the Prairie books, and there were a lot of "non-series" books left over. Also left over were books with dull or drab covers. I thought The Spiderwick Chronicles and Time Warp Trio collections would be cleaned out, but the covers are mostly dark, or black and white and the kids completely ignored the books.
Tomorrow I'll give you an update on plans for the extra books. We found some good ways to use them and still save some for next year.
It started with organizing the books. Parent volunteers took care of that. There were tables covered in chapter books for the older kids....
.... and a separate section for younger kids.
Volunteers were stuffing bags with information about the summer reading program.
Here's most of what was in each bag:
A list of recommended books, a sheet to tally the number of books read (with prizes listed for each level), a free book offer from Borders, pencils, erasers, a reading journal (where students could record a brief summary about each book), and a brand new book from the Alps Recommended Reading list.
We didn't have time to decorate the bags; next year we'll order them much earlier and have the kids do the decorating themselves.
When each class arrived, Mary would give them a bag and tell them about the summer reading program.
Then each student was allowed to choose 2 books to take home (in addition to the new book provided by the school). That's when the chaos began. The kids were so excited about the books, they swarmed the tables like we were giving away gold. Or candy. It was fun to watch.
Kids shopped for books and compared their finds. It was fun to hear them recommending books to each other.
The kindergarteners left a path of destruction behind, but it was fun to watch.
By the end of the day, it was clear what the students liked and didn't like.
The Goosebumps (85) and Junie B. Jones(94) inventory was completely wiped out and the kids were asking for more. Sports books and joke books were frequent requests, and we only had a few of each. Magic Treehouse was popular but there were a few left over. The 22 Captain Underpants books were gone after the first class visited, and every class except Kindergarten asked for them. I felt terrible not having enough. Harry Potter also went fast, but I only had 11 of those. And I only had 1 copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which might have been the most frequently requested book.
On the other hand, only 1 Nancy Drew book was taken, a big fat zero on Little House on the Prairie books, and there were a lot of "non-series" books left over. Also left over were books with dull or drab covers. I thought The Spiderwick Chronicles and Time Warp Trio collections would be cleaned out, but the covers are mostly dark, or black and white and the kids completely ignored the books.
Tomorrow I'll give you an update on plans for the extra books. We found some good ways to use them and still save some for next year.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Welcome to my weekend....
I have no business blogging right now but I know y'all are craving an update about the books and where things stand.
Is a picture worth a thousand words? Here's 2 days' worth of unsorted, unopened books. That's an 8-foot rug, by the way.
Welcome to my weekend! Whoever said they felt God was with me on this project, could you send up an urgent prayer that He send help? Quickly?
Niece Janey arrives tonight and will help me sort, label and count. And Bayne will finally be free of the endless conference calls and meetings so he'll pitch in too.
Say a prayer, cross your fingers, send positive vibes my way... there's so much to do I can't help but laugh when I think about it.
Is a picture worth a thousand words? Here's 2 days' worth of unsorted, unopened books. That's an 8-foot rug, by the way.
Welcome to my weekend! Whoever said they felt God was with me on this project, could you send up an urgent prayer that He send help? Quickly?
Niece Janey arrives tonight and will help me sort, label and count. And Bayne will finally be free of the endless conference calls and meetings so he'll pitch in too.
Say a prayer, cross your fingers, send positive vibes my way... there's so much to do I can't help but laugh when I think about it.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Blown away by the kindness of strangers.
I was awake but still in bed this morning when Bayne said "You're thinking about your books, aren't you?"
Well, yes and no. I was thinking about the people helping me with the books. How could I not be thinking about them?
A coworker of my sister's is hitting an Atlanta thrift sale for me today. The owner of a chain of thrift stores in Texas is scouring her stores for books on my wish list. A woman in France bought books online and had them shipped because her own books wouldn't reach me in time. A teacher in south Georgia not only boxed up a big load of books, she posted the project online somewhere... so now I get emails from strangers who have boxed up books for me and just need my address. A woman in Atlanta sent me a check for $100 - talk about trust!
And the BookMooch points... I've gotten 200+ books, completely free, due to the kindness of BookMoochers who donated points.
Complete strangers, all of them.
I have many more stories like this one. Enough to leave me gobsmacked and boondoggled by the kindness of strangers. It's having a wonderful effect on my project... and on me.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention friends and family. My sister is rallying troops in Atlanta and there's no telling what she'll come up with. My mom donated her entire lot of BookMooch points. A friend from college is supplying pencils and erasers for the student journals. My aunt is supplying 400 bags so the students can carry their loot. Friends from high school, college, work... people I haven't seen in years, are collecting books in various towns and delivering them. Etc, etc, etc.
So it's Day 3 and I don't have a book count just yet, but my heart is overflowing with gratitude. One of the donors told me she felt God was with me on this project, and I agree. And with every one of you who's helping or sending good wishes my way. And with the children of Alps Road Elementary, who will each be the proud owner of 3 books this summer.
For some, it will be the first 3 books they've ever owned. The only 3 books found in their homes.
Thank you and keep it coming!
Well, yes and no. I was thinking about the people helping me with the books. How could I not be thinking about them?
A coworker of my sister's is hitting an Atlanta thrift sale for me today. The owner of a chain of thrift stores in Texas is scouring her stores for books on my wish list. A woman in France bought books online and had them shipped because her own books wouldn't reach me in time. A teacher in south Georgia not only boxed up a big load of books, she posted the project online somewhere... so now I get emails from strangers who have boxed up books for me and just need my address. A woman in Atlanta sent me a check for $100 - talk about trust!
And the BookMooch points... I've gotten 200+ books, completely free, due to the kindness of BookMoochers who donated points.
Complete strangers, all of them.
I have many more stories like this one. Enough to leave me gobsmacked and boondoggled by the kindness of strangers. It's having a wonderful effect on my project... and on me.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention friends and family. My sister is rallying troops in Atlanta and there's no telling what she'll come up with. My mom donated her entire lot of BookMooch points. A friend from college is supplying pencils and erasers for the student journals. My aunt is supplying 400 bags so the students can carry their loot. Friends from high school, college, work... people I haven't seen in years, are collecting books in various towns and delivering them. Etc, etc, etc.
So it's Day 3 and I don't have a book count just yet, but my heart is overflowing with gratitude. One of the donors told me she felt God was with me on this project, and I agree. And with every one of you who's helping or sending good wishes my way. And with the children of Alps Road Elementary, who will each be the proud owner of 3 books this summer.
For some, it will be the first 3 books they've ever owned. The only 3 books found in their homes.
Thank you and keep it coming!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Summer Satchel Program is kicking into high gear...
Remember last year's "Summer Satchel" program for Alps Road Elementary? The school decided to continue the program... on a much larger scale. 400 students, Pre-K through 5th grade! So far my contact at Alps has 1 book for every child, and plans to include a journal, a pencil, and a library card application for each child. My aunt is donating the bags.
But seriously: is ONE BOOK enough to keep a child occupied for a whole summer? I think not. It's progress, but it still leaves me sad. I'd like each child to have three books. Yes, that means I need 800 more books.
So far I have an abundance of Pre-K, 1st & 2nd grade books stacked in my closet. But I need chapter books for 3rd, 4th & 5th graders. Help me! Some popular series that have been mentioned:
- Magic Treehouse
- Junie B Jones
- Nancy Drew
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Goosebumps
- Spiderwick Chronicles
- Wrinkle in Time
- American Girl
Even if you can't buy or donate a book, think about these options:
1) If you're a member of PaperbackSwap or BookMooch and would be willing to donate points, let me know.
2) If you're willing to find & obtain free books from Craigslist or Freecycle in your area (and you're somewhere near central/north Georgia) I'll find a way to get the books. I've got Athens covered.
Finally: If you'd prefer to make a donation, I buy most of my books at thrift stores and average about $.50 per book. Give me a dollar, I'll turn it into 2 books. I've even turned to eBay, where I'm finding entire sets of chapter books for pretty good prices.
Twelve days... 800 books. It's gonna happen, and I hope you'll help!
PS: I also need 800-1200 new pencils, 400 sharpeners, and 400 erasers....
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