My students and I spend a lot of time (too much if you ask some people) on our classroom library at the beginning of the year. It is so important to me that my students and I create a classroom library that is relatable and functional.
As an adult, I don't go to Barnes and Noble, find my blue bin with a level "J" or "16" on it, and choose a book to read. I am able to choose from a wide variety of books that interest me. No one is telling me where to look or what to choose. I am not using a 5 finger rule or making sure the book is easy enough for me to read. I am looking for a book based solely on my interest.
Therefore, at the beginning of the school year, I give my students a ton of time to browse and look through the library. I have books already all sorted out (fiction people, fiction animals, space, sports, etc) and in bins. Then, I allow my students to sit in a small group and browse through the books in the bins. Some days, the groups will take 30-45 minutes on one bin! After they have had time to browse, we talk about the characteristics of those books, why they are in that specific bin, and put on a label on the bin that they choose. This way, they have ownership over our library, they are talking about books (which is like music to my ears!!), and they most likely have an idea of what type of books they like and where they are located.
Here is just a small part of our library and what it ends up looking like:
So simple, yet, it creates a world of difference for my students!
How do you create a classroom library that is functional and relatable for students?
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