Amy@ Literacy and Laughter is having a Library Linky Party. I think my classroom library will always be a work in progress. How fun and now we can see everyone else's libraries too!
I recently divided my library into three sections, non-fiction, picture books, and chapter books.
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| chapter books |
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| reading charts above books |
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| picture books |
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| non fiction books |
I always go back and forth about how to sort them, but ultimately end up going by author in the hopes that it will help students navigate in a public library, where none of the books are leveled. All of the books have a colored dot on the spine, that correlates to a lexile range. The tub label and lexile number is also written inside the cover of the book. I have found that my struggling readers have a hard time picking appropriate books (they are always filling their book bags with difficult chapter books), so I do pull out all the books that are at their level and have them in separate baskets.
The books in the chapter and picture book sections of the library are sorted, almost primarily, by author. Sometimes a series pops up, where multiple authors are present, but the books still need to go in the same bin. Non-fiction books are in drawers with a number labeling each drawer.
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| non-fiction labels |
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| A then Abbot, then Adler, the American Girls |
Underneath the chapter books, I have baskets of a random assortment of genres. We have a class made books, student authors, graphic novels (a very popular basket), and magazines.
There is a table in the middle of the library. I took the legs out, so it is only about a foot from the floor. It has the, "I Don't Know" basket (Students put books here, if they can't figure out where to put them...instead of randomly tossing them wherever they land.) and
Monster Food.
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| on risers with pillows |
Students read all over the place, but they may refer to our anchor chart about how to make appropriate choices for where they read.
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| on exercise balls. | |
Okay, I think that is a summary of our classroom library.
And finally a giveaway is going on over at Oopsey Daisy. The decorative ideas that come from her blog are so cute and if you have not seen her "mommy school" packets, go check them out now!
Happy Friday,
Students read all over the place, but they may refer to our anchor chart about how to make appropriate choices for where they read.
I'm a "Dot" person too...I think it makes it easier to choose (and keep together)
ReplyDeleteStaci
Going Nutty!
misssquirrels@yahoo.com
What is monster food?
ReplyDeleteMisty
Think, Wonder, & Teach
They are simply strips of paper. We write down the title of a book and "feed" it to the Reading Monsters we made at the beginning of the year. The monsters are part of a unit from Abby @ The Inspired Apple. Here is a link to my post about them, http://chickadeejubilee.blogspot.com/2011/09/2-12-weeks.html They really motivate my kiddos...even 7 months later.
DeleteLaurie
Thank you so much for joining the linky party! I love being able to peek into all of these great classrooms! Love your idea of "I Don't Know" bin and the Monster Food. You have SOOO many books!! : )
ReplyDelete