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