Getting Recognition for Your Project

When your students learn about their book project, they will be excited and eager to get started, and there is no doubt they will work long and hard completing their books. When the completed books finally arrive in the mail, your students will be very proud, and they will want to show off their accomplishments.

Allowing students to celebrate and get recognition for their hard work will help encourage them to become lifelong writers, readers, illustrators, and creative thinkers. Plan to hold at least one celebration and/or  sharing event so that your students can show off their books. Allowing your students to talk about their books will help reinforce their pride, and will make them feel like true and accomplished authors.

There are many types of recognition events that can be easily organized. Here are some examples of what teachers have done in the past – ranging from a simple in-classroom celebrations to a full-blown local media blitz.

Hold a Classroom Open House or Author’s Tea

• Invite students from other classrooms to visit and see the completed books.
• Invite parents, grandparents and other family members come for a special book presentation.
• Invite other teachers from the school for a special book presentation.
• Invite significant members of the community, mayor, or the school district’s superintendent.
• Provide refreshments (tea, juice, cookies or cake) for those who attend.

Go on a Book Tour Through the School

• Make arrangements for students to visit other classrooms to show off their books.
• Make special stops in the principal’s office and the library.

Have a Book Donation Celebration

Donate copies of the book(s) to the school library

• Invite the principal and the rest of the school for a celebration in the library.
• Consider donating copies of books to a local library branch, literacy center, or doctor’s
  office waiting room.

Host Book Readings by the Authors

• Invite some of the younger students and parents to sit in the audience.
• Ask a local library branch if the student’s can read their books to young visitors of the library’s
  next read-aloud story time.

Send a Press Release to the Media

• Teach the students how to write a press release about their published book project. Send the release to local television stations, radio stations, and newspapers.
• Have the students (if they are old enough) research local television stations, radio stations and newspapers websites to find out how to submit a press releases (which is usually done via
  e-mail and/or fax).

Write About it in the School Newspaper

• If your school has a school newspaper, ask them to write about the students’ book project.
• If your school does not have a school newspaper, think about creating one to announce the book project. (A simple newsletter on regular paper will work!)

Set Up an Informational Table at Barnes and Noble or Another Local Bookstore

• Spread the word about your amazing and educational project!
• Organize with a local bookstore, and ask students and their parents to volunteer at a StudentPublishing.com information table. Completed books can be displayed and praised!

Enter Writing Contests

• There are many, many student writing contests available for student authors.
• Encourage students to submit the stories they created for their book.

Use the School’s Display Case

• Most schools have a display case for trophies, awards, and/or students’ artwork. Place some
  or all of the books in the display case for the rest of the school to see.
• Have a classroom vote to determine which books should be showcased.

Story Hour With Younger Grades

• Invite a younger grade (such as kindergarten or 1st) to your classroom for a story hour.
• Allow the students to read their books aloud to the visiting class.
• Make the event into a party with refreshments.

Book of the Week

• Each week, have a student read their book aloud to the class. Do this every week until each
  student gets a chance.
• After each student has read his/her book, have a classroom celebration or party.

Field Trip to the Library

• Make arrangements with a local library branch to bring the students (and their books!) for a tour.
• Have the librarian teach the kids how books are arranged on the shelves and where the kids’
  books would be placed… if they were library books.

Have Students Make a Guest Appearance at a School Staff Meeting

• Let students tell about the entire book-making process, and let them show off their completed
  books.
• Allow for a question and answer session between the school’s staff and the students.