Classroom Library- Part 2

I've been working on setting up a good classroom library, and here are the teeny tiny beginnings.

 

I wrote about the setting-up process and labels I used here.


After set-up, the next step was to teach the students how to use the library properly.  I've learned a lot about the concept "less is more" with my class this year.  I realize this "library" looks sparse.  While I have many more books that I would love to put out, I figured this was enough to get us started, and it was!  The kiddos have not gotten bored with the selection yet, and it has been two months.   I have added books to the bins besides what is in this picture, but I have not switched out the bins yet.  These few bins have given us enough material to appreciate and learn how to use the classroom library for now.

I am also happy to report that the bins are holding up just fine, thank you Dollar Tree!

When the students came in the morning I introduced the library, they were so excited.  I pulled out the Dinosaur and Curious George bins for my "show and tell."  (Both are favorites in our room!)  Lots of laughs were soon heard as I modeled putting the wrong books in the wrong bins.  I also modeled putting the wrong items in the bins...pencils, papers, etc. and emphasized how special and important our new library and books are to us.  The kids have really been great about keeping everything nice and neat and trying their best to put the correct books in the correct bins, with a few exceptions every now and then.  My mostly super organized self had other plans in mind, though.

I knew that I wanted to use the number labeling system to help the kids figure out how to return books, and help me keep everything organized.  But I figured that would take FOREVER and did not want to put off getting books in their hands any longer.  So I coped with the occasional Eric Carle in the magazine box for a little while.  

In hindsight, this was interesting because it provided us with opportunities for discussion about categorizing books and learning that there are different authors and types of books.  But I don't want to keep stopping to do this every time the students are switching out their two selected books (currently once a week, on Mondays).

A classroom high school helper kindly labeled all the books and bins last week that I currently have displayed.  Boy was she fast!  Now, each bin has a number and each book has a corresponding number on the front cover.  As I add books and bins it will be easy to continue the process.

Now, these books do not always stay in these bins.  No, the purpose of having them out is to get them in students' hands, right?  As you all may or may not know, we've been working on implementing the Daily 5.  The students pick two books to use throughout the week for "Read to Self" and "Read to a Partner."  They do NOT take classroom library books home....they do take regular school library books home once a week.  The classroom library books had a temporary home in "book bags-" colored plastic envelopes with a snap top from Dollar Tree.

But we have now upgraded to book boxes!

These are "Flyt" magazine boxes from Ikea. I got them for $1.99 for five and reinforced the bottoms with clear packaging tape. 

I left them pretty plain so I can use them next year. They have a Velcro dot with the students' numbers on the front. 

One month later, they are still holding up just fine!

How do you organize your classroom library? 

Classroom Library- Part 1

Here are a few pictures from the beginnings of my classroom library...I was incredibly lucky to inherit many books from the former occupant of the room, but they were not organized or accessible to the children. I had a shelf functioning as the math and puzzles center, but it was not getting used, collecting dust, and was frankly an eyesore in the room. Yuck.

I happen to be taking a Children's Literature course online as I work towards my master's degree.  One of the major projects is to implement a reading and writing center.  Perfect.  I can work on a project for my class that ALSO benefits my classroom in a very needed way. 

So Thursday I announced that the puzzle center was closed, and on Friday I stayed after and transformed it to this:

I agonized for a while over the best labels and bins to use.  I mean, they can make a huge difference, right?  I am happy to say that I am so, so so pleased over how these turned out.  (Pay no attention to the random old puzzle rack thingy in the corner that I haven't found a home for yet, or the dividers that I need to figure out how to remove.  Thanks.) 

I looked around for free labels to print.  I finally decided on this collection and I am very happy with them.  Thank you Keen on Kindergarten for sharing!  They are clear and easy to read, did not require a lot of ink, and covered the major types of books I wanted to have out.   This is by no means the complete collection.  I just put a very small sampling out so that I can teach my kinders to use our library appropriately this week.  (More on that little lesson later!)  

I printed and laminated the labels, but decided to attach them to the bins with Velcro circles.  That way, if I decide to use the bins for something else or rearrange one day, I can easily switch out the labels without losing them.  I think I will do the same with my upcoming math manipulative organization project...we'll see. 

I found the perfect sized bins in Dollar Tree, but I was sad because there were only 5 in purple.  I got them anyway and decided to keep searching Dollar Trees to add to my collection.  I was so excited when I went back this week to pick up some Valentine goodies and saw 25 matching blue bins!  Yes, I got them all.  They seem very sturdy and are a nice size for the shelf and for most books.

This was our old "library."  There was pretty much just room to display some current seasonal and themed favorites and I switched them out every month or so.  I decided to keep this area seasonal.  One of my kiddos broke the bottom shelf, but we decided that was okay because now we have space to put our big books, too.  :)  I will be switching these out as we read new ones. 

So here's our entire space as it is now.  Still lots of work to do, but it's a start!  I can't wait to introduce it to my class!