Alisha Bridges September post

Chapter 5: Organize an Outstanding Classroom Library This is my first year as a special areas/related arts teacher. So when this chapter opens up with how phenomenal your classroom library MUST be and we were shown checklists and videos and inventories of how our classroom library could be, I was immediately convicted. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE A CLASSROOM LIBRARY! After the R2S course, I knew I had a new mission for my LEGO Lab -- find a spot, buy the books, put in the work and get on board. I knew no one would be coming around and writing up a report if I didn't make a classroom library. But I also knew it was just the right thing to do for my students, which is where my heart is. I agree wholeheartedly that students should be choosing what they read. What better place to come and read a LEGO book than in the LEGO Lab? When selecting texts to make available to students, I knew I would want to make as many (and I'm still collecting if any of you readers want to donate) LEGO books available as possible. These are high interest and they come in a variety of reading levels and the students from Kg - 5th grade just find them to be fun reads. I know when I taught author studies as a first grade teacher , any book I read aloud was them added to the teacher basket at the front of the room and kids were allowed to grab them at will. You’d be surprised at how the kids’ interest levels would peak after hearing the book read aloud. They’d want to read the book to themselves and to each other. What if I opened all the LEGO lessons with a quick peek at a book? That's something to consider! In chapter 5, Routman states, “The most effective reading programs are generally supported by large classroom libraries. The better the libraries, the better the reading achievement as measured by standardized tests. Books contribute more strongly to reading achievement than any computer software does. Schools with lots of low-income families have far fewer books available for students, and classroom libraries can help level that playing field. Simply put, children read a great deal more when they have access to books, and well-designed, organized, ample classroom libraries provide the easiest access for students.” Now I know that my LEGO Lab book nook won't be everything all readers need. But I am looking at this as what I can contribute to the WHOLE of what our school offers our students. The books I was able to collect are added to the classroom totals of each teacher's class library. This is the small way in which I can make a difference for my school.