2015 Book Swap

Right before we left for the holidays, we had our bi-annual Book Swap.  The week before the Book Swap, students turned in their gently used paperback children's books.  The following week they pick out their "new" books.  So exciting!

I have been doing Book Swaps for 3 years now and they are always a big hit. They are super easy to do with minimal set up and prep.  December is the perfect time to do a Book Swap because students can clear off their shelves to make room for some "new" books.  I also do a Book Swap in April after testing is over.  It's a fun little celebration of learning and makes "testing week" a little more bearable.

You can get a copy of my free Book Swap pack HERE.  It includes everything you need to do a Book Swap at your school.  Hope you enjoy!

Book Swap

Back in December we held our bi-annual Book Swap and the books that were turned in for the swap were really great ones.

Picture books turned in

Just a few of the chapter books turned in

Non-fiction books turned in

Students who participated in the Swap were really happy with the books they chose.  And students who didn't participate are eager to participate in our next Book Swap.

We will have the next Book Swap in April, right after state testing.  If you're interesting in doing a Book Swap, you can download these free files to help you get started.  It's a fun and easy way to let your students get some great reading material. All it really costs is a bit of your time.

Do you do Book Swaps in your Media Center?

Spring Book Swap

Monday begins our Spring Book Swap and I think it's going to be a great one! Just look at the books turned in for the swap.

There were about 50 picture books turned in...

About 30 chapter books, and...

13 nonfiction books.

About 20 students are participating this time and I think they are going to get some really great books.

If you are interested in conducting your own book swap, you can read more about what I've done here, here, and here.  

I also have a free book swap packet that you can download here to get you started.

Good luck and happy swapping!  =)

Spring Book Swap

The Fall Book Swap was such a huge success that we're getting ready to have another Book Swap.  (You can read all about our Fall Book Swap here and here.)  It's a great way to get "new" books in the hands of your students, and it doesn't cost them a penny!

To get the word out, I sent home letters a couple weeks in advance.  Here's what the letter looks like:

I also made reminder announcements the week before and the week that books were to be brought in for the swap.

The set up of the swap is very easy.  I just decorated the tables with some left over Book Fair table cloths and then set out signs to designate the three different types of books that could be brought in; picture books, chapter books and non-fiction books.

I recorded the number and type of each book students brought in on this spreadsheet. This is probably the most time consuming part because you have to go through each book that every student brings in to make sure it meets the requirements and to it correctly. I did this without any help, but having a volunteer or two to help out would definitely be a plus.  One volunteer could go through the books and the other volunteer could write up the receipts.

And I gave each student a receipt so they would know how many books they turned in and what day their Book Swap day would be.

If you'd like to hold your own Book Swap, you can get a free copy of my Book Swap files here or click on the picture above.  I highly recommend doing a Book Swap. It's free and simple to do.

Book Swap Update

We finished up with the Book Swap today, and I'd have to say for a first go 'round, I think it was a big success.  55 students turned in about 250 books.

I had the swap planned so that different grade levels came on different days.  This allowed me to put out appropriate level books for each grade.

There were mostly and picture books and chapter books that were swapped, but...

...there were also a few nonfiction books as well.

My first "customers"

All of the students I asked said they enjoyed the swap and would do it again.  I think we're going to try doing another one towards the end of the school year.  It really was an easy activity, will minimal set up and organization involved.

If you missed the first post about the swap, you can find it here along with a link to free files to hold your own swap.  I'd love to hear about your swap if you decide to do one.

Book Swap

You might remember from my Winding Down post at the end of last school year that one of the goals I had for this school year was to do a book swap.  I had thought I would plan for one at the end of the year, but instead I am about to hold the first Book Swap next week and I am so excited!

To pump up the kids about the Book Swap, I sent home reminder letters and made weekly announcements about two weeks prior to the Book Swap to give them plenty of time to gather up their books.  I also mentioned it during our weekly Media lessons.

I sent home a letter about the Book Swap based on a letter that a fellow Media Specialist made up to use at her school. You can get a copy of it and all the Book Swap files by clicking here or by clicking on the picture above.  Feel free to use it as is or as a reference for your own Book Swap letter.

Students will be bringing books this week for the swap and I will look through them to be sure they meet the requirements.  Then I will record the number and types of books that they bring in that qualify on a spreadsheet.  You can get a copy of it as well as all the Book Swap files by clicking here or by clicking on the picture above.

I also will give them a receipt so that they will know how many and what types of books they will be able to swap.  You can get a copy of the receipts I used by clicking here or by clicking on the picture above.

To set up, I covered all the tables in red and green table cloths and then put signs to label each table with what kind of books were at that table. This will make it easy for me to organize books when they are being turned in as well as already have the tables set up for the actual swap.

You can get a copy of the signs as well as the letter, spreadsheet and receipts by clicking here or on the picture above.

I even made a Pinterest craft for the occasion (based on this pin).  It didn't come out as well I had hoped, but it took so long to make that I wasn't going to attempt to try it again. It will do for this year anyway.

So I'm set and ready for the Book Swap.  I'll let you know how it goes.  =)