Viewing Post from: A Year of Reading
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Two teachers think about and write about their lives as readers -- readers of children's books, professional books, and adult fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Yes, we still want to try to have read the Newbery, but our reading lives are much bigger than just that.
I've spent some time in my new classroom over the past few weeks. I love being there and thinking about the space. I know it is early, but I need to start the year off organized and I wanted to get things moved and unpacked. I wanted to spend time thinking about the best way to use the space. (My husband is always a huge help during these first few days in the classroom--moving things over and over until it feels like it will work for student learning:-) One of the biggest job is always organizing the classroom library. I want the library to teach students about being a reader. I want the books to be accessible but I also want the organization to help students learn ways of choosing books, finding favorite authors, trying new things, etc. I want the library to meet the needs of every reader in the classroom from the very first day. I feel like I finally have a good start on the library and thought I'd share some of the process.
One wall of the classroom (the one that you see as you walk in the door) is a wall of shelves. The shelves are built in and are pretty much from floor to ceiling. I knew I wanted kids to see books when they walked in and I also knew the students could not reach the top shelf easily. (It was tempting to use that top shelf for my own storage but a good friend taught me the importance of eliminating messes that you can see from the doorway and I always create messes in storage areas.) So I lowered a few of the shelves, making space on top for oversized books to display. I know these books will be gone most of the time but there seem to be so many books that are a little too big for a regular shelf and I don't want those to get lost --I want them to be visible. So I used this shelf area for mostly fiction--baskets are sorted by series and authors that I am thinking will be popular in the early part of 4th grade. I have a variety of easier and more difficult series/authors. I know these will change but I want everyone to walk in seeing old favorites as well as new possibilities. The last shelf in this area is designated to the fiction novels that don't fit into an author/series category but may as the year goes on. I want 4th graders to begin to know themselves and their tastes. Finding authors and series you love will help them think ahead as readers and begin conversations around who they are as readers.
The Smartboard is front/center in the room and I want it to be accessible during read aloud, minilessons etc. So I created the meeting space around the board but not so that it is the center. I built out the shelves a bit so that the "front" is at the easel but it is a flexible space for using whatever tools available. I plan to put nonfiction on these shelves next to the easel and behind.
Behind the easel/meeting area will be the nonfiction books. I am thinking hard about ways to organize these so that they are more accessible for student reading. I
This looks beautiful! I'm so envious of all the space and storage you have. My classroom is tiny so I'm always trying to figure out how to maximize the space. A few years ago a colleague help me figure out a great arrangement and I've not come up with a better one since. Every year I examine it to see if there is anything I can do differently and ask new colleagues for their input, but so far everyone says keep it as it is and so I do.
Are you teaching fourth this year? And how many students will you have?
Thanks, Monica--This is a new room/school for me and once I get the space to work, I probably won't change it for years either! Several of the shelves are my personal shelves that I bought on sale a while back. I finally just bought matching ones because I had mismatched so much. I do love the space--it is an older school and they just redid all of the rooms a year or two ago. I am teaching 4th and we'll have anywhere from 25-30 kids this year.
Franki,
I'm so jealous. Not setting up a classroom is going to be one of the hardest parts of my transition to literacy coach, Setting up the book room just isn't the same.
Love all the shelves for books. When I moved into the classroom where i am now 2 years ago, I had to scrounge for shelves for my books. The first comment I received (and this from a fellow teacher at that) was that I had too many books! I changed things a bit and now am fairly happy with the set up. We can't get into our school though until the last week of August - the week before school starts.
Like Monica and Mindi, I too am jealous. I don't have near the space you have and all my bookshelves are old and mismatched! I wish I had your room!
Wow, I love your new classroom! I would love to have The space you have. I am looking to makeover my room this year with additonal bookshelves that create a cozy library/reading space. I've been told by colleagues and staff alike that they think my room is cozy and inviting. I hope to have a room for my high school students that is as inviting as yours. Thanks for sharing!
Franki,
I too, have moved classroom and building. I have "put away" most of the books using baskets and display bins. But I am having difficulty with what to do with student supplies. What is your thinking about student supplies: book bins, response notebooks etc?
Joanne, I am going to use those cardboard (wide) banker's boxes for supplies, notebooks, etc. Also will have storage for supplies like pencils, etc. on tables. Some baskets around room for other things that need to be easily accessed. I left enough shelf space for the organizers throughout room-I want them to put them away each night and for crowd control, I don't want them stored all in one place.
It looks like you have tons of storage & shelving! I'm also rethinking my non-fiction area. I've focused on adding to that area & now need to make it more accessible. Great post that already has my wheels turning!
Franki-
Like everyone else, I love your room- the shelving is amazing! I love reading how thoughtful you are about organizing-- I'm not going to have my own classroom this year (reading this makes me wish I were!) but I am definitely going to share this piece with teachers! Thanks so much!
Carol
Franki,
I didn't know you returned to the classroom . What an amazing space. I like the organization of the books and the visual display.
Thank you for sharing.
OMG (as my students would say) ... I have total room envy. I love the fact that you have so much built in storage - shelves, cupboards and even drawers. I've pretty much scrounged up book cases over the years - their only connecting factor being the same colored contact paper! Love the easel area, too, and the fact that it is right beside the smart board and computer - I am just imagining all the teaching possibilities this makes so much more convenient and fun. And you are already setting up the library! My room is boxed up and out of bounds until the third week of August, so I'll have to live vicariously by taking a peek at your room from time to time!
Inspirational! It makes me want to go to my classroom with your pictures in hand but mine is presently closed for cleaning. Oh well, I can start planning.
Wow! Can I go back to fourth grade and be in your classroom?
I love your blog! Can we doante some classroom library goodies for your use?
Thanks,
Ben@classroomlibrarycompany.com