Classroom Library

At long last!

The classroom library is ready for patrons! After my lovely 5,234 mile road trip, I just knew I had to bite the bullet and "git 'er dun" as my A&M friends are wont to say. I meant to organize this last summer but obviously, that didn't happen... (Just an FYI-- I GROSSLY misjudged the extent of our classroom library!) This was a project that I thought would take perhaps two days but which actually took 5 days and needed the assistance of friends, as well! We have A LOT of books in our classroom library. The frightening thing? I purchased 98% of them... However, there are astounding statistics that correlate the size of the classroom library with reading achievement. The classroom library is an investment in my students that is truly worthwhile.

Now, all complaining aside, I am VERY happy that this project is complete. I know the students will love it. One of the powerful motivators for this project was that last year the library regularly was in such disarray, that I would see students WALKING on books that had been thrown down or tossed aside! I cannot tell you how much that bothers me! It certainly does not teach children the importance of books and how to treat them. With this new system, the books will be circulated in and out for variety every nine weeks at most. Each individual book is labeled with the name and number of the book bin it belongs in. The books are sorted by subjects or authors. I relied upon my experience as a teacher to decide which topics my students would most likely use and sorted accordingly so that it will be easy for them to use. But that's not all! (Are you wondering when this blog post morphed into a QVC advert?) Since the bins are not out all at once, there will be gaps in the numbering and students will have to figure out where the book bin is based upon their knowledge of the numberline! HAH! Take that, you TEKS! (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills-- the concepts and skills we are required to teach.) That's what I call hands on practice!

Bwahahahaha!


Ninja teacher strikes again!