3 Simple Ways to Organize Your Classroom Library
It might seem like a small thing, but having an organized and visually appealing classroom library makes a huge difference in your students’ level of excitement and engagement around reading.
We’ve all seen (or had in our classroom) a dingy bookcase. The one covered in a thick layer of dust with novels flopped haphazardly on shelves, covers half torn off. Let’s be honest--no one wants a book off that shelf. Your classroom library is a reflection of your feelings about independent reading, so it’s time to organize and spruce things up accordingly.
Here are three, super simple options for organizing your classroom library for the school year ahead.
Organize alphabetically by author's last name. This is a good strategy because it teaches students how to search for books in a library or bookstore, as this is generally how titles are organized.The challenge of this strategy is that it can be tricky to find a title quickly if you can't remember the author's name. It may also be a little harder to keep organized.
Organize your shelves or book bins with labeled genres and topics. This is a very student-friendly organization option. It helps students connect their favorite titles with specific genres and can make it much easier for them to independently find other books they will enjoy. The challenge of this strategy is categorizing books that fall into multiple genres or topics. It also might discourage some students from branching out.
Organize your library shelves alphabetically by author's last name and incorporate bins with genres and topics. (This is my favorite option.) Switch out labeled topic and genre bins throughout the year to keep fresh titles rotating! These labels will keep your library beautiful and organized. The only challenge of this strategy is upkeep. Some people may never want to rotate bins (and you don't have to!). It can also be challenging for students who re-shelve returned books to place them in the right spot. I get around this challenge by keeping a bin on the bottom shelf of my bookcase as a “book return bin.” Students drop used books in there, and every day at dismissal, I reshelve them myself.
Regardless of how you choose to organize your classroom library shelves, the important thing is that you keep them neat and approachable for your students.
Library quick tips:
Switch out genre/topic bins on your shelves to keep different books rotating.
Make a spot on the shelves for book sign in/out and a book return bin.
Designate a time each day to reshelve books (or train a student to help you).
Decorate your library according to the seasons to keep it fun and appealing for students.
Leave Book Flags somewhere near your library so students can easily recommend books to each other!
Happy organizing!
Kara
