So I have not been able to decide how I want to organize all of my books. I can’t decide if I want to separate the books I will use for lessons and the books I will put out for the kids, or if I just want to leave them all the way they are (organized by theme, but altogether in one area). I also don’t know how to have them browse. Currently I just have two shelves that I put books on and they get 2-3 at a time. My kids have book boxes as well so I don’t know how to have them use the library vs. their book boxes that have leveled readers in them.
How do YOU organize your classroom library? I would appreciate any tips/ideas everyone has. Even let me know what hasn’t worked and why it didn’t work for you! I look forward to hearing from all of you lovely teachers!
I have the books that students can use in baskets on the floor. They are organized by AR Level. I also have book baskets with books that I check out from our Media Center, these are organized by group color. My teacher books are in the bookshelves and are organized by time of year. I use to let the students use my books, but some groups are more cautious than others and I had to stop that process. The baskets have been the best for me. I change them out often, so there is variety for them to choose from. They sign the checkout log and keep the books in book bags in their desks while they are reading them. Once they take their AR test, they replace the book in the same basket and take another. I rarely have students put them in the wrong baskets, since the AR level and the color code is easy for everyone. I will take pics when I get back to school if you want to see them.
Thank you for your response! I would love to see pics when you have time.
I am posting about this tomorrow… already scheduled and ready to go! Check it out tomorrow night!
Colleen Patton
Mrs. Patton’s Patch
Mrs. Thompson-
I just posted about my library organization. Check it out here: http://pattonspatch.blogspot.com/2011/03/teacher-library-organized.html
Hope you find it helpful!
Colleen Patton
Mrs. Patton’s Patch
I sorted my fiction books by author and non-fiction books by topic. For now they are all in one area. However, a friend of mine does pull her teaching ones out and files them with the themed units she does throughout the year. I went to Lowe's Home Improvement store and asked for paint sticks, which I will number. The students will put their numbered stick in the basket where they take one book. They can only read one book at a time. This way I can tell who is reading and what they are reading, and they will know where the book goes when they are finished.