September is National Attendance Awareness Month, a time when schools and programs across the country emphasize the connection between satisfactory school attendance and academic achievement.

Researchers and social scientists are always trying to figure out the secret to academic success for students. Public schools or charter schools? Is standardized testing effective? What role should technology play in schools? For every answer, more questions emerge.

One thing the leading minds in education do know is that attendance works. If a teacher is looking for a way to help improve their students’ academic outcomes, attendance works.

Our friends at Attendance Works, a national and state initiative that promotes better policy and practice around school attendance, have developed FREE resources in English and Spanish that help reinforce the importance of attendance for caregivers of young children.

Why Attendance Matters:

• Early attendance helps children read and succeed later in school
• Children from low-income families are more likely to be affected by lost school time
• Chronic absenteeism starts early, so encourage good attendance habits now

These resources are a great way for teachers to engage with their students’ caregivers and highlight the importance of good school attendance. Teachers can use the strategies and tactics found in these downloadable materials to help caregivers ensure attendance is a priority for their young students now and in the future.

Because after all, attendance works.

If you serve kids in need, please visit the Attendance Works section of the First Book Marketplace to download FREE resources that can be used to engage caregivers and convey the importance of satisfactory school attendance.

The post Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow appeared first on First Book Blog.

All of us at First Book have been heartbroken to learn ways recent floods in Louisiana have destroyed public libraries, school libraries, and home libraries across Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas.

An aerial view of Baton Rouge, LA after 2016 flooding. Picture by U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Even before the flood waters started to recede in Baton Rouge, we knew what residents needed most urgently: clean water, a roof overhead, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your next meal is not a gamble. But what comes afterwards? Where do we start to rebuild the foundation of a community?

“We lost everything in our library,” said Claire Clickingbeard, a teacher at Tanglewood Elementary in Baton Rouge. “As well as all teachers’ personal collections.”

Teachers from Baton Rouge and across the country wrote and told us where they needed to start.

“Our school lost its entire library, including all the books in individual classrooms, “said Sarah Batty, a teacher at Denham Springs High School in Livingston Parish. “As I was sorting through the books, I opened a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. This particular book had been handed down through three teaching generations. I saw the ink from the handwritten notes running down the pages…and I lost what little bit of composure I still had left. It was my favorite teacher possession, and there it was dripping in the remains of the river that ran through my school.”

First Book is raising funds to help restock school libraries across the region for Claire, Sarah and many other educators and their students. Funds raised will help us cover the shipping and handling costs of donated books, as well as the purchase of additional books from the First Book Marketplace.

We invite anyone passionate about the power of books, education, and the importance of community to make a donation. If you are an individual that would like to help, please visit our fundraising page to make a donation. Each $1 donated will be MATCHED with a new book from our publishing partners, up to $30,000.

We are working with our friends at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and other publishers who have generously donated a range of new books to this effort. If you are a publisher interested in contributing books to schools and programs affected by the floods, please email First Book at [email protected].

If your school or program was affected by the recent floods and would like to request new books to restock shelves or to share with the children you serve, please enter your contact information here. Please note that completing this form will not guarantee that you will receive books, but it will be the first step in the process.  First Book will share books and resources with as many schools and programs as we are able.

Please join us in restoring the basic resources needed for a school.

The post Louisiana Book Relief: Help Restock Flooded Libraries appeared first on First Book Blog.

There are still a few weeks of summer left, but now is the time to find everything you need to build an enriching environment for the kids in your school, class or program. First Book’s Back to School Hub is your source for great books and resources that will help turn a successful first day of school into a successful school year.

The Back to School Hub includes:

• School supplies
• Learning games and activities
• Books celebrating diversity and inclusion
• FREE ebooks and more!

The first day of school can be a little stressful for students, teachers, staff…and even the school itself! Help ease those first day jitters by reading the charming School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex with illustrations by Christian Robinson, available on the First Book Marketplace.

The post Welcome Back to School appeared first on First Book Blog.

Kids who develop healthy habits have improved outcomes in all aspects of life.

That’s why we’re excited to offer a new collection of titles on the First Book Marketplace to help educators teach healthy habits to kids they serve. Hand-selected by renowned chef Mario Batali, the Healthy Kids Collection features eight books about food and the importance of healthy eating.

Six of the titles are brand-new to the First Book Marketplace.

In addition to sponsoring this collection, The Mario Batali Foundation is helping 250 schools and programs serving kids in need access these resources.

Below are a few of the titles you can find in the Healthy Kids Collection. To view all of the titles visit the First Book Marketplace.

Edible Colors by Jennifer Vogel Bass

With a combination of unusual foods and a kaleidoscope of colors, this concept book shows that not all foods have to look the same way. A banana can be red, broccoli can be purple, and cherries can be yellow and still taste just as delicious.

To Market, To Market by Nikki McClure

Known for art that celebrates the virtues of community, hard work, and living gently on the planet, Nikki McClure here explores a topic close to her heart: the farmers market. Alternating between story and fact, this lovingly crafted picture book follows a mother and son to the weekly market. As they check off items on their shopping list, the reader learns how each particular food was grown or produced, from its earliest stages to how it ended up at the market.

Gus, Nellie, and baby Jake can’t wait to go on a picnic! In the morning the family heads to their community garden, then to the farmer’s market and the grocery store to gather vegetables, fruit, meat, and other fresh and delicious foods. Readers follow them through the day as they go home to prepare, cook, and pack up the goodies, then cap their day by eating a yummy meal in the park and flying a kite together.

A special thanks to the Mario Batali Foundation for making this collection possible. We love being able to offer new resources to the educators and program leaders we serve.

The post Books for Growing Healthy Minds appeared first on First Book Blog.

Educators and program leaders have many uses for the books they receive from First Book – filling library shelves, inspiring excitement in reluctant readers and engaging parents in their child’s learning.

They even give children books of their own to keep. 74% of educators and program leaders say the books they get from First Book are sent home with kids to keep. These books give children the chance to re-read their favorite stories and build collections of books at home, allowing them to fall in love with reading.

Do you work with kids in need? Sign up with First Book today to access books to send home with the children you serve.

The post How Educators Use Books from First Book appeared first on First Book Blog.

One of the best things about working at First Book is receiving thank you notes from the educators and kids we serve.

Cathy Stang, a Learning Resource Teacher from Adrian Elementary School in South Euclid, Ohio, recently sent a HUGE stack of silly, sincere and sweet notes from her students. She even included a note from a parent of one of her students:

Dear Mrs. Stang,

I just wanted to write you a note and thank you for your work at Adrian, especially with First Book. Caleb has grown so much in his love of books and reading this year. Since receiving his first Mo Willems’ book, Caleb fell in love/became obsessed with the Gerald and Piggie characters. He now owns 11 of them. He has used his own allowance money, asked his grandparents and basically any way he could think of to get more. When he gets a new one, he will bring it everywhere he goes and read it to all his friends. I am not even exaggerating. Thanks for making a difference in life of a kid.

We’re grateful to Cathy and all the wonderful educators and kids who share their notes and their love of reading with us. You are OUR heroes!

Want to see your story or thank you note featured on our blog? Share it with us here.

The post A Heartfelt Thank You appeared first on First Book Blog.

A new school year is upon us. And as always, it’s critical that teachers and program leaders have the right tools, so that they can succeed. According to a recent First Book survey, the books they get from First Book make a big difference – to them, and to the kids they serve.

In our survey of our educator community, 79 percent of respondents agreed that access to books from First Book helps them be the best educators they can be.

If you work with kids in need, you can receive books and resources to use in your classroom or program. Make it a great school year and sign up with First Book today!

The post Educators say this about First Book… appeared first on First Book Blog.

Games and activities are a fun, hands-on way for kids to learn through play. They help kids tackle complex subjects like STEM, foster problem solving skills and build imagination. We’ve picked some of our favorite games and activities to get kids of all ages interacting and learning in the coming school year.

How would you use these activities in your school or program? If you are a registered member of First Book’s community of educators working with kids in need, you can enter to win a collection of games and activities for your classroom, school or program. Simply share how you’d use these activities with the kids you serve by commenting on this Facebook status between August 6th to August 14th. See rules below.

Ages 4 to 6

Melissa and Doug Construction Worker Costume Set

Work zone ahead! Your little construction worker will be ready for the job with this bright orange, machine-washable, vest with reflective material and a tool belt; a yellow hard hat; “safety” goggles; a hammer; a saw; and a name tag for personalizing.

Ages 4 to 9

Thames and Kosmos Little Labs: Physics

Discover the mechanical physics of force and motion by building simple machines such as levers, gears, and pulleys.

Ages 4 to 9

Finger Puppets

Finger puppets are fun! Make and decorate adorable characters using the materials in this kit. Then put on a show for your family and friends! Includes pre-printed designs and blank designs to decorate yourself.

Ages 7 to 12

Thames and Kosmos Wind Power

Wind is one of the world’s most promising sources of clean, renewable energy. Build a working wind turbine to harness power out of thin air.

Ages 7 to 12

Easy Paper Airplanes: Fold 10 Zooming Flyers

Ages 10 to 15

Thames and Kosmos Smart Car Robotics

Explore the cutting edge of automotive technology with this futuristic car. Construct the sleek, high-tech car, and then control the car’s motorized wheels with a tablet or smartphone. Use the free downloadable app to script a simple program that instructs your car to automatically follow a predetermined course through a virtual cityscape.

*Entries by individuals serving kids in need who are registered First Book will be eligible to win a selection of games and activities like those featured above, up to a $200 value. Eligible educators should enter to win by posting his/her answer to the question “How would you use these in your classroom, school or program?” to this status on First Book’s Facebook page before 12AM on August 15th. A winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries on August 17th and notified via email. The games and activities awarded to the winner will will be selected for age range of the children served.

If you work with kids in need, you can sign up here.

The post It’s Time to Play (And Win!) appeared first on First Book Blog.

93% of educators and program leaders use books from First Book to develop a lifelong love of reading in their students.

But how can we help kids develop this love of reading? First Book hosted a Twitter chat last week wherein educators around the country convened to discuss their experiences and tips for fostering a love of reading in the kids they serve.

Here are some of the highlights from our chat. To see full answers to all six questions, visit the hashtag #FirstBookEDU on Twitter or read our full recap on Storify.

Why is it important for kids to love reading?