Reorganizing My Classroom Library

So we are halfway through summer and the back-to-school itch has started (well, for me it probably started after school let out).  I've been rethinking my classroom and decided to tackle my classroom library yet again.  About 4 years ago I took every book I had home during the summer, organized them into categories, labeled every book, and set up a library system similar to Beth Newingham's.  However, after observing my last few classes use this system, I realized two interesting things: students were primarily interested in series and nonfiction books and I had no idea if students were really reading appropriate books or not.

So then came my organizing dilemma: Do I organize my library by genre and topic (which is the way Newingham does) or do I organize by level so I can appropriately guide and monitor what my students are reading?  I have colleagues who organize in both fashions and there are definite pros and cons to both.  Most of the online community believes that organizing by topic and genre is more appealing to students.

After much debate I decided to combine both ideas.  Originally I had four colored sections of my library: yellow baskets were picture books, blue baskets were series books, green baskets were mixed chapter books organized by topic, and red baskets were non-fiction.  This time I organized my colored baskets into below grade level (yellow), on grade level (blue), and above (green).  Since non-fiction is extremely hard to level and is best sorted by topic I am leaving them in the red baskets for now.  My hope is that once I know my students reading levels I will be able to guide them to a particular color of baskets when they are book shopping.

Now within each colored section, I grouped books by either topic, genre, or series.  This way students can still look for books based on their interests.  It also makes returning books to the correct baskets easier since both the color of the label and the color of the leveling dot match (they were often mixed before).

Below level

On level

Students see the basket
 title and level

On the back of each book students will see the basket label and a leveling dot.  My leveling dots either have a 1, 2, or 3 and they coincide with DRA levels (ex...a yellow 1 dot is basically a DRA 14, a yellow 2 dot is a DRA 16, etc.)  If some books are leveled with a DRA range, say DRA 18-20, I put a plus on the dot. So a DRA 18-20 would be leveled as a yellow dot 3+.


Another plus about this method is that I can start my school year with only yellow and blue bins displayed.  I always worry about students getting "bored" with my library halfway through the year.  So my thinking is that if most of my students come in below or on grade level in September I will only display yellow and blue books.  Then in December when levels have changed I may display yellow, blue, and green books.  Then in March I may take away the yellow books and only display the blue and green.  I think this will keep the majority of my class pushing themselves in their reading choices.

So that is my plan...I will keep you posted on how it goes.  Here is a sample of what my basket labels and book labels look like (it's a pirate theme this year!).  If you would like to purchase my library labels (editable) please search for Teacher E on TPT!  I will be putting them up shortly!

--Teacher E

Teach Like A Pirate: Embrace Your Inner Teaching Nerd!

Now that school is finally out (yes we have had several snow days which pushed our school year even later into June) my favorite time of year for teaching begins: summer reflection and planning.  My husband still makes fun of me for taking my first full day off as a time to look at teaching blogs, plan ideas and themes for next year, and start organizing classroom files, etc.  But the thing is....when is there any other time to do this during the regular school year?

I've started reading Dave Burgess's Teach Like A Pirate book after seeing it mentioned in Instructor magazine and reading a few blog posts about it.  Even before opening the first few pages I was intrigued by the title and the summary.  Pirates are adventurous and passionate, they don't stop searching for that "treasure" and they rebel against conformity and the "same old".  I feel elated...I feel inspired....I now feel proud of my inner teaching nerd!

I've been so intrigued by the concepts behind this book that I decided to change my classroom theme to pirates this year.  Yesterday I scoured pinterest and tpt looking for pirate related items and ideas.  Today I've spent the first part of my morning (hooray for daycare!) reading the first 53 pages.  I've decided to make some promises to myself for the upcoming school year:

1) Be a tool...and be proud of it!
That's right...I'm actually considering wearing an elaborate pirate hat to school on the first day to greet my students.  I've always enjoyed making students laugh, being crazy, and doing silly things in public.  I think it stems from my inner need to get attention (I am actually an introvert and shy in many social settings...weird, huh?).

2) Let go of the controls (you freak!)
I will admit that I am definitely, 100%, concrete sequential and maybe slightly obsessive compulsive.  I can't even watch the show "Hoarders" on TV without developing anxiety.  It's funny because such a big part of my being is having control and keeping things in a functioning, efficient order.  And yet I am a teacher of elementary kids...7 and 8 year olds whose very existence is often unpredictable and chaotic.  My profession is working in the midst of chaos.  Are you serious?  Yet at least I recognize this about myself and will continue to work hard at letting go.

3) Spend more time with family and hobbies
My poor husband...there are days (sometimes it seems like weeks) where we are just ships passing in the night.  We have two small kids at home who are loveable, funny, and exhausting.  The few moments we have without them we often want to either sleep or be by ourselves.  When we do try to spend quality time together it is often after 9:00 pm and in less than half an hour we are usually both asleep on the couch.

Dave talks a lot about personal passion in the first chapter of his book.  I would say that I am personally passionate about teaching and organizing (how sad!).  But he also mentions that being creative comes more easily when you are immersed in things outside of your profession.  So I thought about things I love (or use to love when I had time): dancing, writing, art, nature...going on trips/adventures.  I need to commit myself to doing these things without divided attention.  I want to share in these experiences with my husband and kids...if I keep these ideas at heart I think I will be overall more happy and less stressed.

Whew!  That is a lot of talking.  More to come soon.

Read the book!  It's great!

~Teacher E