How To Make the Most of Your Classroom Library: A 5 Part Series


It took me about six years before I actually liked my classroom library. And it was important to me to like my classroom library, because if I didn't, who the heck else would? Certainly not my students.

But I’m a tinkerer by nature, so I’m betting you will beat six years, or maybe you already have. Each year I gave quite a bit of thought to my classroom library, trying to think about what would make it better. The classroom library is the most important place in my classroom, so I couldn't help but continue to make changes. And who am I kidding? I still tweak it here and there. 


But what was it that made my library cross over into the "ahhh-this-is-finally-working" zone after those six years? What did I like about it? Three things:

Functionality: It had to be organized in a way that students knew where to find and return books efficiently.
Character: It had to be a welcoming, interesting place to be.
Longevity: It had to have enough books and enough ways to stay alive and running throughout the entire year.

My classroom library has been working well for a few years now. It's not perfect, that's for sure, and it's ever-changing, because of the books being added to it (or taken out), because of me never being satisfied, but mostly because of the students who interact with it.

I'd like to share with you my thoughts about classroom libraries by telling you all about mine. Along the way, I hope that you pick up a few tips and ideas for your own classroom library. I'm going to have five parts for you over the next few weeks:


Thanks for checking them out!