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Tips to Master Classroom Library Organization

As an educator, helping students develop a love of reading starts with you. There are so many ways to help foster that love and your classroom library is one of them. Scholastic is a great way to find popular and affordable books for your library. They have amazing dollar deals and thousands books that kids absolutely LOVE! If you would like to learn more about how I earn FREE books for our classroom, check out THIS blog post about Scholastic engagement!

In years past, I leveled books by their reading level rather than by genre. It was my belief that after you assessed students and determined their reading level, you would assign them a basket based on that level. Well… that system worked. Students read several books on their level and made growth. But before I started this year, I heard a quote that would forever change the way I organize my classroom library.

“We don’t fall in love with a book because of its reading level.”

At that moment, I knew I was putting my students in a literal book box. I realized I wasn’t allowing student choice to foster a true love of reading because they weren’t deciding what to read really. I will never again say, “Sorry honey, that book is not your reading level.” Instead of deterring my students from a text, I knew I should let them explore books based off their interest.

Classroom Library Organization Post

Leveling books can be overwhelming- especially if you have a ton of books! You may even ask, “Is it really necessary?” In my experience, providing students with a welcoming and organized space to choose books to read for practice and pleasure is totally worth it. One of our most important jobs when students enter our classroom is to help encourage a love of reading and your classroom library is the first place to start. If this space is inviting and engaging, students will love to visit it. However, if it is completely unorganized or not easily accessible, students most likely won’t be interested in checking out books.

I have tried so many different library setups, book level types, and ways to level. Whether you use DRA, AR, or Guided Level, I believe it is important to have an organized system for students to access books. So as much work as it is to level your library I think it’s totally worth it! I have found that what works best for me is to first level the books by reading level. This allows me to know what level students are reading at and if they are struggling, I am able to intervene. There are a lot of wonderful tools to help level books. Some of my favorites are the Scholastic Book Wizard and AR Book Finder. They are both free websites that have pretty much any book you might have, as well as different leveling options depending on how you may choose to level your books.

After leveling the books by their reading level, I then sort them into categories by genre. I absolutely love Just A Primary Girl’s Editable Classroom Library Labels! There are so many different categories offered and I love that they are also editable! I have been able to create my own labels for the variety of books I have in my own classroom. They can even be printed on labels so that all you have to do is peel and stick them on the books!  One of the reasons I love these is that there are big labels that go on the book baskets and little labels that go on the books. This way students know exactly where the book belongs and they have been so good this year putting them back. Here are some pictures of what my process looks like:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I mentioned, this is definitely a time consuming process but so worth it. I have never seen as much reading growth as I have this year. I think that allowing book choice with a variety of different kinds of books, along with an organized system, has been a huge contributing factor. Another factor is providing students with independent sustained reading time (SSR). You can also see my post about that HERE.

Of course there’s no one right way to set up your classroom library. You just have to do what works for you and your students! You might even find that what works some years won’t work for others. Feel out your class and see what works. You’ll find what makes sense for your classroom and your kiddos! My students LOVE when they get to choose new books to enjoy. It is their favorite time of the week.

Book Leveler Freebie

I hope you enjoyed learning about ways to organize your classroom library!  Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list! Not only will you get the most up to date tips, tricks, and classroom projects… and of course more fun FREEBIES including the DRA Book Level Chart FREEBIE! But you will also have exclusive access to tons of digital how to videos! If you would like to learn about this and other things happening in my classroom follow me  @sweetnsauerfirsties on Instagram.

To follow me on TPT and get all the latest updates on HALF OFF new products, click HERE!

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A fun place to be apart of the educational journey. Full of all things teaching! The good, the bad, and even the ugly. Join my experiences and subscribe to my email list to get the most up to date tips and tricks.

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I don’t know about you guys but March for me ALW I don’t know about you guys but March for me ALWAYS means renorming and practicing expectations... again. One of the things I love do is review good and poor choices. It’s a quick reminder in a fun way! You can learn more about this and other Social Emotional resources I use in my newest blog post. How do you review expectations with students?
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I’ve been sharing about Social Emotional activit I’ve been sharing about Social Emotional activities this week. This is one of my favorite ways to get to know students better and connect on a deeper level. Students are always SO real while sharing! I NEVER force students to share if they don’t want to but I do share real feelings with them. ❤️ If you would like to learn more about this and other activities, you can check out my newest blog post! 
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Yesterday I shared my newest blog post about Socia Yesterday I shared my newest blog post about Social Emotional Learning! Today I’m sharing my newest SEL resource. Emotions Boom Cards! Helping students learn about their emotions and how they feel is HUGE! You can grab this deck HALF OFF for a few more hours! 🎉 
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I am LOVING this @thewrightstuffchics Tee of the M I am LOVING this @thewrightstuffchics Tee of the Month!! Sooo glad it’s finally March! 🍀 
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#readacrossamerica is here! 🎉 Thank you for cre #readacrossamerica is here! 🎉 Thank you for creating this wonderful list @readlikearockstar! What are you reading this week?!
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Are you ready for Social Emotional Learning ideas? Are you ready for Social Emotional Learning ideas?! This blog post dives into the why and how of SEL and gives TONS of ideas to help support you and your little learners! 🥰I’m super excited about the exclusive freebie this week!! It’s a BRAND NEW emotions board game from my soon to be released emotions resource! 🎉
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#readacrossamerica week begins this week! Have you #readacrossamerica week begins this week! Have you read this amazing book? There are SO many wonderful books out there to celebrate a love of reading. ❤️ What books are you planning to read this week?
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I don’t know about you guys but March for me ALWAYS means renorming and practicing expectations... again. One of the things I love do is review good and poor choices. It’s a quick reminder in a fun way! You can learn more about this and other Social Emotional resources I use in my newest blog post. How do you review expectations with students?{🔗 on profile}••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #igconnect4edu #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #primaryteacher #socialemotionallearning #socialemotionalskills #teacherblogger #teacherblog #teacherbloggers #classroommanagement #teachingtips ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer is in Denver, Colorado.

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I’ve been sharing about Social Emotional activities this week. This is one of my favorite ways to get to know students better and connect on a deeper level. Students are always SO real while sharing! I NEVER force students to share if they don’t want to but I do share real feelings with them. ❤️ If you would like to learn more about this and other activities, you can check out my newest blog post! {🔗 on profile}••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teacherblog #socialemotionallearning #socialemotional #classroomcommunity #teacherblogger #teacherbloggers #socialemotionaldevelopment ... See MoreSee Less

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I LOVE this idea from #classroombookaday!! What region are you in?!••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teacherquotes #readacrossamerica #readacrossamericaweek #readaloud #diversebooks #childrensbooks ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer is in Denver, Colorado.

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Yesterday I shared my newest blog post about Social Emotional Learning! Today I’m sharing my newest SEL resource. Emotions Boom Cards! Helping students learn about their emotions and how they feel is HUGE! You can grab this deck HALF OFF for a few more hours! 🎉 P.S. Did you see the moving GIF images from @educlips?! How cool are those?! 😍{🔗 on profile}••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #tftpickme #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #boomlearning #primaryteacher #socialemotionallearning #emotionalhealth #socialskills #digitallearning ... See MoreSee Less

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I am LOVING this @thewrightstuffchics Tee of the Month!! Sooo glad it’s finally March! 🍀 •••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #tftpickme #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #primaryteacher #teachertee #teacherstyle #ootd #teacherstuff #teacherthings ... See MoreSee Less

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