Amanda Justice: November Blog Post 4

Routman, Chapter 5:  Organize an Outstanding Classroom Library

Last year was my first year teaching 4K.  Little did I know as I began this journey the power of a well organized, engaging, classroom library.  My students last year never wanted to go to the reading center.  During choice time they would always pick blocks or dramatic play.  I was even able to get them excited about the writing, but it seemed like nothing I did built excitement for reading.  This bothered me as a teacher because I wanted to teach my students a love for reading.

As I began this year, I thought long and hard about what I could do to make this area of my classroom a more inviting place for my students.  I read blogs and pinned things on Pinterest.  As I arranged my classroom for this year, I was careful to think about the placement of each center.  Last year I did not have a big bookshelf for books, nor did I have a clearly defined reading center.  I just had a small shelf that could house a few books at the front of the classroom.  This year I have a large bookshelf with book bins labeled according to category along with a small book shelf to display books that go along with the current theme/curriculum. 

During the first few weeks of school this year, I made a point to go to the reading center often with my students and just read with them.  If I couldn’t go, I would have my assistant sit and read.  We did this for a number of weeks.  And you know those awesome books that we got to order for our classroom libraries.....I actually placed those books in the classroom library.  In the past I cringed at the thought of students tearing “my” books or folding the pages.  While it is not always easy, I am trying to not stress over what might happen to my books and spend more time teaching my students to properly care for them.  Sometimes we do have books that get torn or bent, and when this does happen I try to remember that this is a teachable moment.  A moment to review how precious our books are and how we should put them away neatly and carefully.  We practice what it looks like to take care of our books, how to look at the labels in order to place them in the correct bins, and how to turn the pages when we read. 

Reading this chapter also made me think about whether my classroom library jumps out or is invisible.  Although some of my students are excited about reading and about going to this center this year, I still think it is somewhat invisible.  For some kids it is difficult to compete with dramatic play and blocks.  I have made changes, but still have work to do to make this the type of place ALL students want to go to in the classroom.  I am currently working on a Donor’s Choose to add some comfy bean bags chairs along with a listening center for students.  I don’t know if I will ever have the perfect classroom library, but I plan to continue working on making this a happy, and exciting place for my students. 

As educators it sometimes takes us stepping outside of our own comfort zones in order to make a difference in the lives of our students.  While I can do some of the things I want for my students, I can’t provide them with all of the tools and materials I would like to.  I have always wanted my students to get “Weekly Readers” like I used to have in school.  I loved these and thought they were so cool.  A few months ago I decided to try and make this a reality.  I stepped outside of my comfort zone and wrote my very first Donor’s Choose project.  I was so nervous about the wording, what to say, and what others would think of my writing; but I decided it didn’t matter because my students were more important than my worries.  Within a matter of a couple of days my first project was funded.  Several of my friends and family members donated along with donors I didn’t know.  I want to encourage any teacher reading this who wants to work on improving their classroom library to give Donor’s Choose a try.  The process is very simple and you will be amazed at the support your fellow educators will provide.  In the end you have nothing to lose and your students have everything to gain!