I have lots of books! The last six years my library has been a mess! I have allowed my students to just put books wherever in the library and in their desks. I really didn't care because I didn't find the time during the day to make my library how I wanted it. I always wanted a nice classroom library like other teachers, but there was always something else to worry with!
I sat down at the end of last school year and wrote several things I wanted to change about my classroom and teaching. I made goals. Well, one was my library. I dreaded it! I thought about my classroom library all summer. At the end of July, I decided to come on into school and tackle the mess! I dumped every book I had in the middle of my floor. What a mess! I went through every book. I made so many stacks! I grouped books together by author, genres, holidays, paperback picture books, hardback picture books, chapter books, series, animals, and the list goes on. I put them in red tubs. Once every book had a tub, I labeled every book and every tub! What a task I took on! I was so overwhelmed!
Now, four months into school....I am so thankful I took those several days this summer to organize my classroom library. My students know how obsessed I am with the library. My library has stayed so organized all year! The students have their own book boxes and go "shopping". They know exactly where the books are and how to put the books back! They know the tubs that have their favorite books in them! It has been the best thing for my library. It use to take my students forever to pick books to read. It is a totally different story now!
After reading this chapter, I am reminded of my days this past summer and how thankful I am for my organized library. I will always have an organized library in any classroom I teach in!!
I'm so glad you took on the challenge of an organized library, and even more so that your students are reaping the benefits. With just this one step you have improved your students' reading lives, you are turning them on to authors, genres, characters and/or topics that they may have not discovered before. I wonder if your students are using the books during independent reading, and what you may be learning about your students through the conferences.
ReplyDeleteHi Lyndsey,
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing about your classroom library description, it makes me want to come and visit and check it out. It sounds wonderful! I love how you have organized your baskets by topic, genre, and author so that students can have easy access to choose books they want to read. I know they will love it! Thanks, Dawn