Classroom Library Formalities

Phew!  It seems like I have been working on my classroom library forever, and I'm still not near done.  I meant to take pictures of my bins, which are coming together wonderfully.  However, my bins are currently at my mom's house.  (Thanks mom!)  I still have about 7 more boxes to sift through.  Who knew I had so many books???

Without my book bins, I got a little bit done with the procedural part of my classroom library.  In my spare time I created:

• A checkout form that includes the student's name, book title, date out, date in, and my initials
• A contract for parents and students to sign
• A letter for the parents about the contract
• Book reviews- bookmark style, book cover style, and bulletin board style.

 The part of the packet I am most excited about is the book reviews.  My mom and I were talking about the library when she came up with a wonderful idea- to include book reviews in the library.  I have been thinking about book reviews.  I love the book reviews at Half Price Books where the employees post why they like that book.  I think book reviews could inspire other students to read a new book they may have not read otherwise.  Plus, it is a wonderful way to assess how much students are understanding what they are reading.

I don't know exactly what my library corner will look like yet, so I included several different types of book reviews.  I included both a fiction and non-fiction book review that can be posted on bulletin boards.  Then I made book reviews that can be posted on the front of books just like the reviews at Half Price Books. Finally, I made book review bookmarks.  These reviews are my favorite.  They can stay in the book and be used as a bookmark.  Then students can leave the bookmark in the book for the next student who can look over the review before checking the book out.  

I'm super excited about using these new reviews in my classroom.  If you're interested in any of these documents, you can get them here at teacherspayteachers.

Beginning the Classroom Library

Happy Monday!

Today was a rainy day here, so I decided to get some serious work done on my classroom library. I am trying to set up an organized library for my students.  My main goal is to have a set up where students can easily find books and put them back...in the same place.  Since it's my first year, I'm not quite certain what exactly will work for me.

The past five years (since I knew I was going to be an elementary teacher) I have been building my classroom library.  My collection includes books from prekindergarten levels to Newberry award-winning chapter books.  I LOVE the clearance rack at Half Price Books.  However, my favorite stores to buy books is thrift stores.  My best finds have probably been at Goodwill.  Most of their books are priced from 49 cents to a few dollars, so a few extra bucks can go a long way.  Plus my mom is a school teacher and has been a major donor in my collection.  THANKS MOM!!!

Anyways...after looking at Pinterest and many blogs, I came to a decision.  I am going to use book bins with labels.  I have considered book bins for a long while, yet I have also been really uncertain of how to use them.  Then I saw this post on Foreman Teachers blog and fell in love.  I don't have 3,000 books or room for 3 libraries, but I love the look and organization.  So I got started...

Scholastic Book Wizard and Excel

First I created an Excel document and made a table to include the author, title, category label, grade level, and genre.  I used the Scholastic Book Wizard to find the grade level and genre. I don't plan on including the grade level on anything that my students will see.  I just really wanted a way to monitor who's ready what level comfortably.

Book Bins

American Girls Book Bin

These are my beautiful book bins from the dollar store.  I got 14 in purple and 14 in green to compliment my monster theme.  I've even created monster themed book bin labels, but I haven't got around to printing them out yet because I'm still not sure how I will end up sorting the books.  I know I want to sort the fiction books by series, author, and genre.  However, I ended up with tons of nonfiction books as well.  I'm still not certain what the best way to sort them will be.  It will probably make more sense once I open the rest of the boxes. I only made it through 2 today with 10 more to go.

After pulling off price tags, typing, and sorting I am excited to finish.  I'll keep you updated as it comes along!

Teachers Pay Teachers Summer Adventure

This summer I have started exploring teacherspayteachers.com.  I've been on the site to download sources, but this summer I decided to begin posting my own resources for others.  So far I have only posted one resource for the Magic School Bus, which I made for a brief summer school science activity.

The activity goes along with The Magic School Bus: All Dried Up.  It is a listening guide that students can fill in as they watch the video.  I wanted something to increase student listening as well as provide a connection to the information they had learned in class.  I know kiddos love The Magic School Bus, but I am never certain if they actually made the class to video connections I hope for.  This way I can provide students with a guide of what is important information in the video.  Plus, it is a great assessment opportunity.  The third grade class I worked with this summer loved the activity.  If you have time you should check it out!

Hopefully I will be able to post more to teacherspayteachers as the summer continues to unwind.  Currently I am starting to tackle my library dilemma- how to check books out to students.  I can't wait to post classroom pictures as soon as I am able to set up!

Gearing Up!

The 2012-2013 school year has proved rough on me.  I student taught Fall 2012 at two different schools.  I did 7 weeks at a public school in a kindergarten classroom and 7 weeks at a private school in a fourth grade classroom.  Upon graduating in Decemember with a degree in Elementary Education, suprise, suprise I didn't get a job.  However, I did become a substitute teacher.  While working for an elementary school, they hired me on as a fourth grade teacher for this coming school year 2013-2014.

After growing close to classroom after classroom of students, I am ready for my own room.  I have already started gearing up by purchasing books for my classroom library.  I have also decided on my classroom theme- MONSTERS!  Besides that I have gone Pinterest crazy.  Now I am anxiously waiting for the first week of school.  I know this first year of teaching won't be easy, but I am so ready...afterall I have had a year to wait and prepare.