Author Archives: Samantha McGinnis

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Our Bookshelf

Our Five Favorite Poetry Books

We’ve selected our favorite poetry books for you to share with your readers of meter and rhyme. From clever poetry favorites and nursery rhymes, to craftily created illustrations and novels in verse, you’ll find poetry for all ages to inspire even the most reluctant future-poets. If you work with children… Read More
For Educators

Teaching Much More Than Basic Concepts

The hundreds of parents in First Five Permian Basin’s Parents as Teachers program are learning to be their child’s first teacher. They’re excited for the challenge. Topics like counting, shapes and colors are at the top of the list of concepts to teach their kids. “Our parents may ask… Read More
For Educators

Free Food to Fuel Your Students’ Learning

Working at a Title I school you learn pretty quickly that if basic needs aren’t met, students aren’t able to move past those needs. No one can learn when they’re hungry. When students are hungry they’re distracted and sleepy. It’s amazing to watch a… Read More
Impact Stories

How One Shy Girl Found Friends Through Books

We recently met Victoria Hammond, a Program Coordinator at Linwood YMCA in Kansas City. She told us about Leigh, a particularly shy girl in her afterschool program who found confidence and friends through reading. Victoria noticed that she played alone and didn’t have the self-esteem to introduce herself to the… Read More
Impact Stories, Our Bookshelf

One Story to Engage ELL Families: The Wednesday Surprise

Last week, we featured Roxana Barillas, Director of Hispanic Engagement at First Book. She shared her thoughts on the ways educators can connect with ELL families. This week, Roxana shares one book from  Build Strong Families With Stories that can help in engaging ELL families in their child’s… Read More
For Educators

Ways Educators Can Connect With ELL Families

Today’s guest blogger is Roxana Barillas, Director of Hispanic Engagement at First Book. When I came to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 12, I had no knowledge of English and jumped right into a new school. My mom worked multiple jobs to support my four siblings and me,… Read More
Our Bookshelf

World Read Aloud Day Book List: Our Five Favorite Books for February

February 24 is World Read Aloud Day. To celebrate, we’ve selected our five favorite books to read aloud with kids – tomorrow and all year long. You’ll find silly books with vivid illustrations, beautiful poems in English and Spanish and a nonfiction book about animals. To share with older readers,… Read More
Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

Home Libraries Make A Huge Difference

Home libraries make a huge difference in kid’s lives. A 20-year study found that, regardless of nationality, parents’ education level or economic status, the presence of books in the home is one of greatest indicators of a child’s academic success. Researchers found that having as few as 20… Read More
Focus on First Book, For Educators, Impact Stories

Tablets Help Struggling Readers Gain Confidence

Earlier this school year Sharlene Scott, an Alternative Language Arts teacher in Gardena, California, brought two brand-new tablets into class for her students to explore. She was able to purchase them on the First Book Marketplace thanks to a partnership with Blackboard, Inc. Sharlene loaded the… Read More