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Experts say that one way to help your kids get a jump on learning is to help them, well, JUMP!  Boosting students’ physical activity not only supports health and wellness and makes kids feel better, but it turns out that it can help them learn better, too.

That’s why First Book is excited to announce a brand new addition to the First Book Marketplace lineup of resources:  sports and fitness equipment provided through Target.

“Whether it’s dribbling a basketball, playing softball, or maneuvering through an obstacle course, physical activity can improve academic achievement, boost cognitive skills and improve concentration and behavior for kids – both in and out of the classroom,” said Kyle Zimmer, First Book president and CEO.  “Thanks to Target, many more schools and programs serving kids in need will have the resources to encourage healthy activities that also foster learning.”

Through Target funding, First Book will now offer brand new softballs, soccer balls, bean bag toss games, playground balls and more on the First Book Marketplace.

If you’re a teacher serving children in need, you may be able to take advantage of special funding from Target that will provide credits that educators can use to access sports equipment from the First Book Marketplace site. So run – don’t walk – to find the sports and play equipment you need to support learning and wellness for the children you serve. 

The post Active Bodies, Active Minds: Boost Wellness & Learning with Sports Equipment appeared first on First Book Blog.

Theresa Mai, librarian at Truscott Elementary

“I always tell our kids that they are like cars, motorcycles or trucks,” says Theresa Mai, the librarian at Truscott Elementary in Loveland, Colorado. “We talk about their parents getting fuel for their car – how it can’t run without the right fuel. Their bodies are the same way. Food is their fuel and we have to keep them going so they can learn.”

Theresa Mai provides books, games, activities, and all kinds of resources from the First Book Marketplace for the students at her school. But without food, the kids don’t have the basic caloric intake to benefit from the resources she supplies.

Much of the non-perishable food the school receives from First Book is used as mid-day snacks to keep kids alert and engaged. Some is used after school to feed kids in Book Club, Garden Club or Running Club. Many of the snacks are just available for kids when they get hungry.

Theresa even uses the food as a learning tool. While reading stories about zoo animals, Theresa’s students play with animal crackers. They break them apart and combine the animal’s characteristics to inspire imaginative play, learning the benefits of different animals’ biological traits.

“I would combine any animal with a chicken because then my family could eat the eggs,” said one student. He then explained to Theresa that his family was out of money and almost out of food.

This isn’t an atypical experience for the students at Truscott. Because of this the school provides snacks to their students regardless of need or ability to pay. Many of their kids come to school without breakfast and don’t go home to a meal awaiting them. Others stuff their pockets with snacks to bring home to their siblings who don’t attend the school.

“I am often in awe by how appreciative the kids are of food,“ explains Theresa. “Most of us have access to food 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But for those who do not have easy access to food, it is the kind of gift that lights up a child’s face.”

If you’re an educator or program leader serving children in need, you can find non-perishable food and other basic needs on the First Book Marketplace.

The post How One Librarian Uses Food to Keep Kids Learning appeared first on First Book Blog.

“Being cold is something that’s hard to camouflage,” says Claudia Averette, Chief of Staff of Chester Upland School District in Chester, PA.

When Claudia started her role, it was very clear to her that her students were missing something very important to their education – coats.

“When you have children coming to ask if you have something they can wear home because their jacket isn’t warm enough, the need is evident,” Claudia says.

This is a common problem in cities like Chester where the median income for a family of four is $26,000 per year. Families have limited resources. Between paying rent and putting food on the table coats don’t always take priority. And when kids don’t have coats in cold weather, they can’t make it to school to learn.

“I think we take for granted the little things that families just don’t have,” says Claudia.

As the temperature dropped, her students arrived to school without warm coats. They had no hats, no gloves and no scarves. Claudia turned to Operation Warm, a nonprofit whose mission is to put coats on kids in need, to provide them with coats.

“When you look at the absentee rates, they go up in January and February,” explains Claudia. “I believe that has a lot to do with not having adequate clothing.”

First Book has partnered with Operation Warm to offer coats on the First Book Marketplace so kids can make it to school and learn year-round.

The incredibly warm coats are carefully constructed. The manufacturing is high quality, so kids receive the same quality items as their more affluent peers and don’t need to worry about standing out. The coats have a tag inside for kids to write their names so they know the coat is their own. Kids can play outside with friends. It’s a great relief for their families.

For many students, when they receive an Operation Warm coat, it’s also the first time they’re receiving something new.

“When children feel good about themselves, they do good by themselves,” says Claudia. “When kids have a warm coat, they have a smile on their face. They sit up, they pay attention, they’re more astute because they just feel good about themselves!”

The First Book Marketplace now has winter coats and cold weather items. If you work with children in need, you can access these resources and many more by signing up.

The post Her Students Were Missing This Critical Resource appeared first on First Book Blog.

Tablets provide many opportunities to engage a child in interactive learning. But for educators in under-resourced schools and programs, such technology is often out of reach.

Thanks to a partnership with Blackboard Inc., many schools and programs were able to find affordable Kobo tablets through the First Book Marketplace this year.

How did they use them? Many used the Kobos to engage families in their child’s learning – 71% of educators and program leaders reported that the tablets helped them achieve family engagement goals. 

Parents and children used the tablets before school, especially if they didn’t have technology at home. Other children showed their parents their favorite activities and websites during a parent meeting. Parents and caretakers now have the games, learning apps and eBooks that tablets provide at their fingertips, allowing them to play an active role in their child’s education.

If you serve children in need, you can find books, tablets, learning resources and other essentials on the First Book Marketplace. Sign up today!

The post How Educators Use Tablets appeared first on First Book Blog.

In 23 years, we’ve been committed to educational equality. We’ve seen how books can have a tremendous effect on children’s lives. But sometimes a book just isn’t enough.

An overwhelming number of families struggle meet the basic needs of their children, such as providing food, shelter and clothing. In fact, 79% of educators and program leaders say that meeting basic needs is one of the most common challenges faced by their students.

A teacher may go through great lengths to help his or her students read and learn. But on a very cold day, if the students don’t have coats or hats, they can’t attend school and fall behind. If kids can’t even remember their last meal, they cannot focus.

Without essential resources, kids simply can’t learn.

We understand that kids need more than just books to thrive. That’s why we provide educators with clothing and nonperishable food on the First Book Marketplace. Together, we can ensure their students have everything they need to show up to class and do their best.

Access the tools you need to help the children you serve succeed. If you work with kids in need, you can find food, clothing, school supplies and more on the First Book Marketplace.

The post Back to Basics appeared first on First Book Blog.