Building A Classroom Library
By: Karen R. Day
Because of the importance of reading in the life of an individual, the library should be the most important area in your classroom. Space is at a premium, but the library portion can be used efficiently. You can make it a warm and inviting place by having big pillows, carpet squares or large bean bags for the students to use during reading times. Another idea for a unique place to read would be to have a child’s swimming pool or tent in the area. You could also have a rocking chair there to sit in while you read books aloud to the class.
Since each student has a variety of interests, you should have a variety of genres in your library. Besides children’s fiction, have books relating to history, science, geography, mathematics and social studies. Also, don’t forget to have magazines and newspapers for your students to read, as well as dictionaries and encyclopedias. Depending on the ages of your students, have different translations of the Bible and various devotional books.
Make sure that you have several books that are below, on and above the reading levels of your students. There are various assessment tools to see where your students are in reading. To discover what reading materials your students would like, get them to fill out a reading survey. If you teach younger children, fill this survey out as a group.
Having books on tape can also further their reading education. You can buy these already made or create some of your own. Record yourself, some of your best readers or grandparents and other family members reading a particular book.
Books can be obtained from several sources. One source would be garage sales or yard sales. Another source might be relatives who have books to donate to your library. You could talk with retiring teachers to see if they have any books they want to get rid of. Also, have your class join a book club. This will give your students an opportunity to buy books and for you to earn bonus points to obtain books for your library. Another source might be to make books. The whole class could write and illustrate one together or each student could.
Sending a request list home for specific books would be another way to add to your reading collection. The parents can then know what books to buy if they would like to donate to your library. So that the parents or other family members can know some of what is in your library, send a book home with each student. This will create an interest in reading as well.
A final source for building your classroom library is to have a book fair or book drive. For a book fair, a company will come into your school and sell books. A book drive is asking people to donate books that are in good condition to your library. Information about your book drive, as well as a wish list of books, could be sent home with students as well as to your church members, if your Christian school is affiliated with a house of worship.
Reading, an important skill to have throughout a lifetime, can be enhanced immensely through a well-stocked classroom library. Stocking your library will take some effort, but is well worth it in the end, especially when you see your students enjoy reading.
Karen R. Day, along with her husband John, is the founder of Creative Hearts Ministries.
Sidebar
Classroom Book Resource Directory
BookCloseouts.com
www.bookcloseouts.com
ChristianBook.com
www.christianbook.com
Christian Teacher Supply
www.christianteachersupply.com
Dover Publications
www.doverpublications.com
Joyful Noise Books
www.joyfulnoisebooks.net
Rainbow Resource Center
www.rainbowresource.com
Scholastic
www.scholastic.com
Schwabe Books
www.schwabebooks.com
