Where, Oh Where, Can I Find a Book?

I am a first year teacher at Woodlake Elementary School in Mandeville, Louisiana. I teach all academic subjects in my first grade classroom. The good thing about being a first year teacher in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana is that this year the parish has adopted a "guaranteed curriculum" in an effort to make sure that teachers are teaching state mandated curriculum. This is nice because I have firm guidelines to help me make sure that my students are successful. Also, because the curriculum is required in all St. Tammany Parish schools, any student transferring between schools in the parish should not have trouble stepping into another class since everyone is pretty much on the same page as mandated by the curriculum. The bad part about being in my first year of teaching is that I do not have access to the literature and trade books listed in the curriculum. I have spent quite a bit of money trying to keep up with the other first grade teachers and the recommended books for the curriculum. As a result of Hurricane Katrina the resources of the school system are strained and the listed books could not be supplied and have not as yet made their way into the libraries at school. Therefore, I do not have the resources to meet my students' needs in this area and I cannot afford to go out and buy all of these books. I have varied levels of ability in my classroom. I cannot supply my students with the quality literature that other, more experienced teachers are using and that experts in the academic fields are recommending. Although I have books in my class, the specific books for the curriculum are quality books, which would enhance my students reading and math abilities. Students who are exposed to quality literature and trade books on a daily basis are more likely to become life long readers. Students who are exposed to math reading material will be able to understand concepts more easily because the concepts are presented in interesting and age appropriate materials. In order to keep my students interested in the language arts and mathematics curriculum and to give them opportunities to experience quality books, I am asking for the books listed in our guaranteed curriculum. Many of my students do not have access to books at home and their parents do not take them to the library. Therefore, the exposure to reading they receive in my classroom may very well be the only seeds planted to help them grow into life long readers. Please help me put these books in my classroom and in the hands of my students. It would take me years to acquire the books in this curriculum. The storm has limited our resources at school and at home. The school has not even been able to purchase copies for our library yet. Although my principal is trying to find the money to purchase these books, there will not be enough copies for every teacher, especially since other grade levels are using some of the same books. If I had these books in my classroom, students could hear me read and model appropriate reading skills and strategies. Students could listen to math concepts presented in child friendly interesting and entertaining ways. Students would also have access to the books to read during their silent reading time. Very often, the books I read to the students during their lessons are the books they choose to read on their own time. First grade is such an important time for children. I believe I am responsible for laying the foundation for the students' future learning successes. First graders are learning the basics in all curricula. Providing the students with quality literature and trade books and being able to keep those books in the class so that students have access to the books would be a big step in laying the foundation. Being a first year teacher I cannot purchase these books for my students. My school system does not have the funds at this time due to budget adjustments as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The school system is struggling at this point to repair and replace schools which were damaged and destroyed during the storm. We are struggling to accommodate the students from these schools in addition to our normal enrollment. Please help my students to be successful in their first grade year and to become life long readers and life long learners. Help me to make sure that my students are making the grade and they are ready to move to the next level of our guaranteed curriculum. Please help them to become life long readers and learners.