Whether it’s your first time planning a One School, One Book or if you’re a veteran program participant, making a positive impact on your school is likely very important to you. Keep reading to discover four strategies you may not have considered to maximize One School, One Book’s impact on your school community.
1. Align Your One School, One Book Event with an Existing Literacy Celebration
We understand that it can be hard to carve out two to four weeks for a reading event, especially with the existing breaks, holidays, and standardized testing that occupies a school’s calendar. If you’re struggling to select a date, consider existing literacy celebrations. Many schools have, historically, kicked-off their One School, One Book programs in tandem with Read Across America Day – also known as Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd. March is also known as National Reading Month, a weeks-long opportunity to encourage students to hit the books and nurture their positive relationship with reading. Pairing National Reading Month with your One School, One Book program, especially with a book that has a three to four week reading schedule, can ensure the fun spans all month long!
If March just won’t work for your school, that’s no problem. Consider November (Family Literacy Month) or April (National Poetry Month and Financial Literacy Month), instead.
2. Host a One School, One Book Program Over the Summer
Family literacy shouldn’t stop when summer vacation begins. Instead, you can keep the fun rolling right through summer by merging an existing summer reading program with your One School, One Book event. It is a fantastic way to strengthen the bonds within your school community during the summer by having everyone share a common – and fun!- reading experience. You’ll also be helping temper that ever-dreaded Summer Slide by keeping kids in an academic mindset even as they break from in-person learning. Check out our summer 2025 fun catalog to get started.
3. Select a One School, One Book Title that Features Financial Literacy
We all know that reading together supports the literacy skills of students. With the right book, One School, One Book can also support the financial literacy of students and their families, too. Financial Literacy is the ability to understand and effectively make informed choices regarding money. It is never too soon for children to become financially literate. By visiting the Browse Titles page, you can filter for Financial Literacy books in our catalog, all of which (upon program purchase) are accompanied by an Introduction to Financial Literacy document on your book resource page.
4. Expand Your One School, One Book Across the Entire District
Elevating your One School, One Book to a One District, One Book provides the chance to coordinate and strengthen relationships with other elementary schools in your area. Putting all students, families, and school staff on the literal same page, at the same time, surroundings children with your selected story. The opportunities for connection and community-building are endless, and are sure to span beyond the scope of your reading program.
We hope that these strategies are useful to you. Are you a long-time One School, One Book participant? If so, please share some strategies you’ve used to launch successful One School, One Book programs in your school. We look forward to hearing from you. Happy reading!
