“It’s fun picking books that you can choose and that you like,” smiled Samantha Morgan, a second grade student at the Bethel Elementary School spring book exchange. “When I read I go on adventures.”

Three years ago, Bethel’s staff had an epiphany straight out of Richard Allington’s research. Kids need to choose the books they want to read. The problem was lack of funds to support this grand idea. The solution came in the form of the “Bethel Book Exchange.”

The first book exchange was organized in the spring of 2011. At first many of the books that came were outdated. Bethel Elementary was determined to put high quality, high interest books into the hands of their students. This past year, the principal, Mrs. Barker gave each student a new book while trick-or-treating through a new activity called “Book-O-Ween.” Francis Cove United Methodist Church has sponsored students at the school book fair. Bethel’s Exceptional Children department is constantly creating inspiring ways to get kids to love reading and give away books. Title 1 sponsors reading nights in each grade throughout the year where fiction and non-fiction books are often the prize for attending. As an incentive for students to bring books for the book exchange, students got a free book coupon to order a book of their choice from a book order.

Now three years later, students are circulating their book gifts through the book exchange. This school wide effort has taken the book exchange from old outdated books to an “I can’t wait until it’s my turn” opportunity! We started with students choosing two books each and now they can choose four to five books each.

Eight year old Trenton Mason loves the book exchange, “I feel overjoyed and always happy when I read. I like Geronimo Stilton stories. I feel like I’d like to be in the story.”

As a result of this hard work and dedication, student reading volume has increased dramatically. The current book exchange featured in the picture has approximately 1800 books valued at close to $8,000. Just another example of Bethel showing the LOVE of READING!!