I need to cut some corners because of my budget, but I don’t know where to start. Do I need to buy all the books? Any tips?
- Buy used if available.
- Reassess your budget. Spread the cost over the year rather than buying everything at once. If a book isn’t used until Term 2 or 3, buy it later.
- Check the library or interlibrary loan for books only used a short time.
- Look for the infinity symbol in our program and click on it for books that are free online.
- Look for books and materials you already have to substitute until you can add more books and supplies to your library.
- Look ahead and add books or supplies as birthday or christmas gift ideas.
- Do you already own an atlas? The page numbers might not match our lesson plans, but it could be a short-term solution.
- Pay attention to the course you’re using and don’t accidentally buy the books for other ones. (Such as, if you are starting off with US and World History, don’t buy Ancient History books yet.)
Should students have their own copies of books if I combine?
- If students are following along while a teacher reads or sharing the reading (for instance, Shakespeare), students should have their own copies. Some books have large enough print that you may choose to share between two students. It is important for emerging readers to see the text as they read to build fluency. If budget allows then students may benefit from having their own text. Another option can be to have the student hold and turn pages while the teacher is reading so they still get the text in front of them.
What if a book I need is out of stock?
- Out of stock is different from out of print. Please be patient and most books will come back in stock. We continually work with publishers to provide solutions. On rare occasions that a book goes out of print unexpectedly and we can't find a cost-efficient solution, we will substitute a different book. Please do not pay high prices for out of print books - we will find an affordable solution. We use the Alveary Weekly newsletter to communicate updates, so be sure to watch for and read the newsletter each week.
