As a first year teacher at a Title I school, I never expected the emotional roller coaster that this year would be. Winning Sigma Tau Delta’s Classroom Library Grant has been a game-changer—not just for me, but for my students as well. When I first stepped into my sixth-grade English Language Arts classroom, I dreamed of creating a space where students would love reading. But I quickly realized that building a diverse, engaging library would be one of my biggest challenges. Thanks to this grant, that vision is slowly becoming a reality.
At a Title I school, resources are often limited. I knew that in order to get my students excited about reading, I needed to provide them with books that would spark their imaginations. But I didn’t want to just fill the shelves with random titles—I wanted my students to feel a sense of ownership over their reading choices. That’s why I turned to them for input. Using surveys and book recommendations, my students helped me choose the titles that would fill our library. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and the excitement they expressed as they selected books for our classroom made me even more grateful for the opportunity the grant had provided.
One of the most special moments so far was when we finished The Lightning Thief as a class. Watching my students’ faces light up as they followed Percy Jackson’s adventures was unforgettable. Their discussions were full of excitement and connection to the characters. But what happened next truly amazed me—my students begged for the sequels! These were the same students who had once groaned when independent reading time was announced. Now, they couldn’t get enough. Thanks to the grant, I was able to buy the next books in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, and the magic continued.
For me, this moment was a reminder of why I became a teacher: to ignite a love for reading. It’s not just about finishing books—it’s about inspiring a lifelong passion for stories. I wanted my students to read not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Seeing their excitement grow each day has been the most rewarding part of this journey.
As we continued reading, I saw even more positive changes in my students. They now beg for extra independent reading time, excited to dive into their books. They make lists of books they want to read, share recommendations, and talk about the stories they’re exploring. Some students who struggled to find books that excited them at the start of the year are now picking up books on their own and asking if they can read more. It’s a shift I couldn’t have anticipated, but one I’m incredibly thankful for.
I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity the Classroom Library Grant has given me to foster this transformation. My students’ reading habits have changed—they’re no longer just reading because they have to, but because they want to. They’re excited to share their thoughts, make recommendations, and ask for more time to read.
This is only the beginning. I can’t wait to see where their reading journeys take them next. I’m so thankful to be part of their discovery of the magic of books and the joy of reading.
Zoe O’Malley
Classroom Library Grant Recipient, 2024
Fisher Middle School
Ewing Township Public Schools, NJ
Sigma Tau Delta Classroom Library Grants
Sigma Tau Delta’s Classroom Library Grants are designed to enhance the Society’s goals of
- promoting interest in literature and language in the surrounding communities;
- fostering all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing; and
- serving society by fostering literacy.
The Classroom Library Grants are also intended to support our members who have entered the field of teaching and need material support to help achieve these goals through their work in the classroom by providing their students with a library in their own classrooms, especially where access to school or public libraries or to books in the home may be limited.
The Society will award up to five grants of $400 each per cycle to help members of Sigma Tau Delta who have been teaching in a Middle School or High School classroom for five years or fewer. That is, applicants may or may not be recent college graduates; the Classroom Library Grant is intended to help new Middle School and High School teachers, whether in their first years out of college or in the first years of a second career, to build a classroom library for their students.
Criteria For Selection
In choosing recipients, the Classroom Library Grant Committee will consider the following criteria:
- lack of economic and geographic access to books at your school, or another demonstrated need;
- the explanation of how the classroom library envisioned will support your goals in alignment with the Society’s goals; and
- supervisory endorsement of your classroom library project.
Please note that this grant is now only available to middle school and high school educators.
Deadline and Dates
Applications will be accepted June 23 through July 14, 2025, 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT).
Past Classroom Library Grant Recipients
Building a Representative Library with a Classroom Library Grant
Our Classroom Library: Bridging the Gap in More Ways than One
Aiding Access with a Classroom Library Grant
A Classroom Library Grant: The Gift that Gives Again and Again
Building a Classroom Library as a First-Year Teacher
Feeding the Minds of Our Future
Classroom Library Grant: A Book Blessing
Classroom Libraries: Inclusivity and the Reluctant Reader
“I Finished a Book!”: A Classroom Library’s Impact
The Unofficial Guide to Getting the Best Books for your Classroom
Creating Lifelong Readers with a Classroom Library Grant
The Contemporary American Dream: The Impact of a Classroom Library Grant
Building My Classroom Library: A Bright Spot in a Tough Year
Special Books for Special Students
New Books, New Motivation
If You Build a Classroom Library, They Will Read
Books are Our Passports to the World
Striking a Match
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