How a Richmond Teacher Is Expanding Access to Classroom Novels
A Richmond kindergarten teacher raised funds to give every student a classroom novel, supporting early literacy, reading confidence and equal access to books.
AC Team
For many children, a book is more than a school item. It can be a doorway to new places, new ideas and new ways to understand the world. But not every student has the same access to books, especially in the early years of school.
That is why Mrs. Conklin, a kindergarten teacher at Richmond Public Schools in Virginia, set out to place a novel in the hands of every child in her class. Her goal was simple: each student should have a book of their own to read, keep and enjoy.
Building a reading habit from the start
Mrs. Conklin has spent six years working at Richmond Public Schools. During that time, she has seen how books can help children grow as learners. She believes reading forms the base for almost every part of school life.
“Reading is important because it’s how you engage in everything we do,” she said. “And so for us, it’s so important in kindergarten because we’re building a foundation.”
Kindergarten is often a child’s first full step into formal learning. Students learn letters, sounds and simple words. They also learn how to listen, ask questions and share ideas. A classroom novel can support all of these skills.
It can also make reading feel less like a task and more like an adventure. One page may take a child to a forest, a farm or a far-off planet. No passport needed, and no packing required.
Why owning a book matters
Access to books can shape how often children read. When a student has a book at home, they can look at it after school, read with a family member or return to a favourite story. This gives reading a place beyond the classroom.
Owning a book can also give a child a sense of pride. It tells them that their reading matters and that they deserve materials that support their learning. For young students, this small act of ownership can make a big difference.
In a classroom, shared books help the whole group learn together. Personal copies give students a chance to follow the story at their own pace. They can mark a page, study a picture or reread a part that made them laugh.
Turning an idea into classroom support
To fund the project, Mrs. Conklin created a request through DonorsChoose, a platform that helps teachers raise money for classroom supplies. Her request focused on providing novels for every student during the school year.
The project drew support from donors who understood the value of early literacy. The team at 12 On Your Side also chose to support the effort and help Mrs. Conklin reach her goal.
The support led to a special surprise for the class. A video from 12 On Your Side shows the moment the students learned about the new books. Their reaction captures something that numbers cannot: the joy of receiving a story that belongs to you.
What classroom novels can teach
Books help young readers practise more than spelling and phonics. Stories can help children build vocabulary, follow a sequence and understand how characters feel. They can learn that people may see the same problem in different ways.
Reading also gives teachers a chance to discuss kindness, courage, friendship and choice. A simple story can lead to a thoughtful question: What would you do? For a group of kindergarten students, the answers can range from wise to wonderfully unexpected.
When teachers use novels in class, they can create a shared reading experience. Students listen, talk, predict what will happen and connect the story to their own lives. These moments help turn a classroom into a community of readers.
How families and readers can support book access
People who want to support Mrs. Conklin’s class can visit the project page linked by 12 On Your Side. Readers can also help early literacy in their own communities through simple steps:
- Donate new or gently used books to a local school or library.
- Ask teachers which books their students need most.
- Read with a child for a few minutes each day.
- Let children choose books that match their interests.
- Visit public libraries and make book borrowing part of the week.
For Mrs. Conklin’s students, the project starts with a novel in each child’s hands. From there, every book can open a new question, a new conversation and another reason to keep reading.
