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Literacy is a major focus for the district this year, instructional services chief Sean Alford said.
Last fall, the district completed an audit of reading materials in middle and elementary schools to make sure books were accessible to students in their classrooms, Alford said. Staff counted the number of books in different genres and evaluated the variety of reading levels represented.
Sherry Carroll, the district's English and reading coordinator, said that after the audit, the district was able to buy an average of $400 worth of new books per classroom for schools deemed most in need. The books were ordered last month.
At the county's six middle schools, teachers of core subjects -- math, English, science and social studies -- received books, as did those who teach special education and students with limited English proficiency.
Teachers at five elementary schools -- Lady's Island, Shell Point, Bluffton, Red Cedar and Okatie -- also received books.
Carroll said the district will buy books for other schools as more money becomes available.
Terry Bennett, principal of Lady's Island Middle School, said there was a big need for additional books at his school. "Not much money had been spent in the past on acquiring classroom libraries, and most of what had been done had only been done for (English) classes."
The new books were chosen by teachers, with the help of school literacy coaches, keeping each subject's curriculum in mind. Carroll said teachers chose a variety of genres, including poetry, nonfiction and historical fiction.
Melissa Holland, literacy coach at Bluffton Elementary School, said vendors came to the school and let teachers browse through their merchandise before they ordered.
"It was like going shopping," she said. "It was incredible. Teachers could look at them, touch them and make sure the book was actually what they wanted."
Students will have time to read independently during classes, and some teachers will let students check out the books to take home, Carroll said. Part of the district's literacy plan emphasizes independent reading with follow-up student-teacher conferences on the material, she said.
"I think that students need to practice reading just like they practice anything else," Carroll said. "To make sure they practice, we want to make sure they have good choices for books, choices that reflect their interests. We want them to love to read."
Jamie Pinckney, principal of Okatie Elementary School, said that when students get used to reading about topics that interest them, they learn to enjoy books. Now, she said, her students are particularly interested in books about skiing, snowboarding and other sports in the Winter Olympics.
"They like whatever is current," she said.
