walking into my first classroom, i knew i was going to have to get creative. in addition to the bare walls, lack of guidance on the curriculum, and about five really old textbooks, I was also teaching in a self-contained, cross-age 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade special education classroom . The first thing I needed to do was start building my library, but I had no idea where I could get cheap books for the classroom.
Fortunately, I have been able to amass a large collection of books from the classroom library over the past decade. Throughout that time, I’ve found many great websites offering cheap paperbacks for my classroom library. Today I wanted to share some of my favorites with you.
You are reading: Cheap books for teachers
10 Places to Find Cheap Books for the Classroom
If you’ve ever wondered where to get cheap books for your classroom, you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re looking for inexpensive classroom novel study games or just a variety of books to build your classroom library, these sites offer great deals on books your readers will love.
1. school dollar deals
scholastic regularly offers $1 books through its online book clubs. they also have a teacher store that has even more titles. this makes your site a great place to stock up. in fact, right now they have over 100 books that are only $1.
Throughout the course of the year, a number of great titles typically roll through the $1 promotion. Scholastic book club $1 books are one of the cheapest ways for teachers to build a classroom library fast.
In the past, I’ve gotten class games of charlotte’s web, axe, and dear mr. henshaw like $1 school books (to name just a few).
Dollar books through book clubs are an especially good deal because you earn points on your purchase. these points can be used to stock up on more books for free.
If you don’t already have an account through Scholastic Book Order, sign up using this link.
When you place your first order, use the coupon code 80291 along with my last name (Davies) and my code (2575587593) to automatically earn 250 bonus points.
That’s enough to get a free book!
The great news is that Scholastic doesn’t just offer cheap books for schools! homeschooling families, you qualify too! here are your instructions to sign up.
2. goodwill books
Most people have heard of Goodwill, but did you know they also have an online store?
the goodwill bookstore has a ton of great titles, and they’re all pretty cheap. when I checked last night, there were several copies of ax for less than $2.
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They also regularly have discount codes that show up right on the top of the checkout screen. Right now, for example, it is 25% off your order when you enter the code at checkout.
If you haven’t visited this site, I recommend you take a look and see if they have what you need.
3. stolen books
Second-hand books may seem a little more expensive when you first look at them, but they offer a 15% discount to teachers with coupon code apple when you buy more than 20 books.
4. first book market
If you teach in a Title I school, Book One is the place for you if you’re looking to get novel sets for the class or need to update your classroom library.
You can order books by the case and get them for shipping and handling. Yes really! the books are donated by publishers with the aim that more books reach the hands of children at risk.
right now, for example, the first book bank has a set of 30 magic tree house audiobooks for $24 and class sets of certain books from the who went biography series for a very low price as well.
In addition to books by the box, they also offer individual titles through their marketplace. these books are quite heavily discounted and there is a wide variety available, many for less than $2.
I love that the site highlights upcoming holidays or special events and provides many great literature options aligned with them.
Even if you’re not a Title I teacher, you should check out the site. there are some great resources and lesson ideas available.
5. book store
A best kept secret among librarians, Book Outlet offers a great selection of books for your classroom library at very reasonable prices.
While the prices aren’t as great as academic prices, the book outlet does offer discounts for larger purchases, making it a great place to stock up on novel sets or class books at a variety of reading levels. different.
They also offer some great picture books, and the site is super organized and easy to use. Shipping is free with orders over $35, which is also super nice.
If you don’t have specific titles in mind, clearance books are a great deal on this site.
6. books4school
books4school is another great site for cheap books. They offer a variety of titles, offer good customer service, and have a lot of experience working with educators.
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I’ve found hardcover novels for as little as $2.50 each, and there’s enough variety that you should be able to find something that will please even the most discriminating reader.
One of the best things about this site is they offer bilingual readers in eight different languages, including Spanish. Finding quality literature for your bilingual students can be a challenge, and this site helps make it way easier.
7. a million books (aka bam!)
books-a-million is a great site to find books for your classroom. their bargain books section has an amazing collection of non-fiction texts, which is one of the reasons I really like the site.
8. discover books
If you haven’t checked out the book discovery website in your quest to fill your class library, chances are you’re missing out on something amazing.
discover books aims to keep books out of landfills through resale, redistribution and recycling. In fact, they’ve actually donated over 10 million books to nonprofits over the years, so you may want to reach out and see if your school qualifies.
9. facebook market
You’d be surprised how many teachers use the facebook marketplace to remove unwanted items from their class. this makes it a perfect place to start building your classroom library.
Whether it’s a retired teacher selling her classroom library or just someone who’s changed grade levels, there are plenty of great deals out there.
I highly recommend checking out the market at the end of the school year in your area. this will allow you to capture all the books that teachers are trying to get rid of at the end of the year.
10. books by the foot
books per foot is a bit different than the other options I’ve shared for creating a classroom library. At first glance, it seems like this is a site for interior designers who want color-coordinated shelving.
If you dig a bit deeper and head to their Books by the Box section, you’ll find you can order a box of children’s books at rock bottom prices.
On the plus side, it’s a real box of books for about $25.
The negative is that you don’t have a choice in the books. you simply select the general age you need and they send you a random assortment. age ranges include: K-2, 3-5, and young adult. they also have a non-fiction box.
Do you need book suggestions for your classroom?
No matter where you shop, it’s always good to have a few suggestions for books your students might enjoy. If you need some pointers, here are some good places to start:
If you need some suggestions, here are some good places to start:
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