Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Organizing Your Classroom Library

Even though this past year I only taught math, I always kept my classroom library stocked with exciting and new books for the kids to check out. I am a firm believer in having a classroom library ready and available for students, no matter what subject you teach. Throughout the year, I collected a ton of books from retired family member teachers, staff members helping a new teacher out, and lots of my own money going straight to Scholastic Book Clubs! Now, my bookshelf is overflowing with books and it drove me crazy by the end of the year how unorganized my bookshelf was.

One of my goals for this summer is to organize my classroom library, especially since I will be teaching reading as well as math next year! Last summer, I "tried" to separate my books into grade levels (4.3, 5.2, etc.) and genres. The problem was, as students checked out books and returned them, my organization went down the drain! I have seen lots of bloggers using baskets to organize books, and I think this would be a great idea. My confusion is how do you organize your book baskets. By genre? By author? By grade level?

What ways do you organize your classroom library? What works for your classroom? I could use any and all advice you have! 

6 comments:

  1. I spent ALL last summer leveling every single book I owned. My district really pushed kids to read books ON THEIR LEVEL and not a smidge higher! So, I took the time to level every single book (by Guided Reading Levels). Then I got Avery Labels and typed my last name on it along with the Guided Reading letter. So for instance I had an entire sheet of "M" labels, an entire sheet of "P" labels, and so forth. As I found the level of each book, I put the correct label right inside the front cover. Then I had baskets in my room labeled with the Guided Reading Levels (letters). When it was a students "day" to check out a book from my library, they knew which baskets they could choose from! When they checked their book back in when they were done, they just found a basket with the letter that is on the inside cover of their book and put it where it fits! I hope that makes sense! :) Good luck! Let me know if you need help with anything!

    -Allison
    Adventures in Room 204

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    1. Thanks for the tip! I think that is a great idea of having leveled labels so students knew exactly what baskets they could shop from. How many days per week was each student allowed to shop for books in your library? Last year, my students just got a book when they needed it, but I like the idea of each student having a specific shopping day! Makes it seem more exciting to pick out a book!

      Ashley

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  2. I'm not sure I can be of much help since this year will be my first year teaching, BUT I have seen some great posts on Pinterest about organizing a class library. Hope this helps!

    Amanda
    Babydoll Teachings

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    1. Great idea to look on pinterest! Thanks for the advice Amanda!

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  3. I organize my library by genre. I find my fourth graders tend to find an author or a genre that they really enjoy. Because I run a Reading Workshop in my room my students end up reading a lot of books before the year is over. Having it by genre helps me be able to find the books I am suggesting (and it helps them know where to put it back!)
    I'm a new follower!

    Hunter's Tales from Teaching

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    1. Thanks for the advice Bethany! I had them by genre last year, and I really liked it. I think I am going to get some book baskets to help students know exactly where to get and return books by genre. And thanks so much for following!!!

      Ashley

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