How to Create a Take Home Reading Program for Kindergarten

I love books. Anyone who enters my classroom would know this just by looking at my classroom library. I want my students to love books too. Many of my students don't have a huge selection of reading materials in their homes nor do they make frequent visits to our local library. Providing my students with books to take home is very important to me. I used to send home a different book each night with my students. This was a lot of work. Often I'd spend my lunch time frantically exchanging books. 

Then one day a friend and I were talking about our take-home reading programs. Our programs were basically the same, give kids books to read each night, EXCEPT she gave them 5 books on Monday to read for the week. Books went home Monday to be returned on Friday. GENIUS!!! This meant no more scrambling at lunchtime. I could refill bags on Fridays. 

A New Take-Home Book Program

After I had decided to change how I sent home books, I knew that the ziplock bag just wouldn't do. I wanted my students to have a bag that would catch their eye, a bag that would remind them to read or in the case of my students ask someone to read to them, or at least look at the books. With the help of my crafty friend, a trip to the fabric store and $50 later. I had 30 book bags. These bags are made from oilcloth, which means they can be washed and wiped down. They won't soak up the spills and they help protect the books. 

Creating the Bags

She cut the fabric into long strips of 11"x24" then she folded both the short ends over about 1/2 an inch and stitched. Then she added velcro tabs to each stitched end. This becomes the top opening of the bag.  Next, she folded the fabric in half to form the bag and stitched it on the outside with her serger.

The parents loved the bags, they were easy to locate when they went MIA. At the end of the school year, I still had all 32 bags. I brought them home, tossed them in the washer and they looked brand new. They are all stuffed with 5 books each and are ready to go home with little readers. 

The Bags and Their Contents

I organize my books, five to a bag. Each bag has a number and each book has a label with the same number.

Click to download contract -Spanish version is first

Before my students can take home these bags, their parents must sign a contract with me.  The contract states the purpose of the bags and parents agree to pay for the bag should it or its contents become damaged or lost.  Last year I only had 3 parents who never returned the forms, I did not give their children a bag.  Instead, they took home the ziplock bag with photo-copied readers from various sources.

Click to download contract -Spanish version is first

Keeping Track of the Book Bags

To keep track of which student has which bag, I use a take-home reader board. I created the checkout board using a large piece of poster board and library pockets.  I used my Cricut machine to make the fun letters at the top of the board.   

Keeping Track of Each Book Bag

I write the students' names on the pockets.  I made cards with numbers 1-30.  Depending on which bag the student has, I place that numbered card in their pocket with the number facing outward.  On Fridays when they return the bag, I flip their card over.  Any remaining cards with numbers showing remain facing outward and a colored popsicle stick is placed in their pocket.  The popsicle stick signals me to ask the parents or the child where their bag is.  

Next, I move each card over one pocket and face the number outward again.  I then match the bag with the student and place their bag in their homework folder. Students who do not return bags on Fridays, do not get new bags until their other bag is returned.    

I know it sounds complicated, but it is really easy and my parent helpers catch on quickly.  Please feel free to leave me a comment or ask a question about my program and its process.