Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Classroom Library Redo! Part 1: Purging and Restocking Your Classroom Library



 This is part one of a two post series.  


I have always loved having a big class library. It has really  helped me create readers out of my most reluctant students. But, over the years I realized that I had been lazy and sort of let my library go.  It  really hit home when I went to a workshop by Donalyn Miller and read her book Reading in the Wild. Holy Moly! If you read it, be prepared to look at your class library with new eyes and be compelled to improve things! It was this quote that really made me rethink my library:

  ". . . remember why we build classroom libraries 
in the first place: so our students will fall in love with reading and find the right book at the right time. We cannot offer our students meaningful              book access with damaged, outdated, 
or uninteresting materials." (p. 86)

Yes, a lot of my library was MUSTIE.  MUSTIE is Donalyn's acronym for the six factors librarians use when removing books from their collections.   Essentially, MUSTIE asks if your books are Misleading (contain information that is no longer accurate), Ugly (torn, ripped, yellowed, etc,), Superseded (having older copies of books that are often updated), Trivial (books that don't engage most of your readers), Irrelevant (outdated, no longer popular), or can be found Elsewhere.  I really suggest you read her book, especially chapter 2: Curating a Classroom Library, where Donalyn goes in to much more detail.  Using the MUSTIE criteria, I did a huge purge of books in June, at the end of last school year.  I ended up pulling about 275 books.   These are just some.

Once I had all the books pulled, I let my students take home as many as they wanted.  Honestly, I had kids coming from classes I don't even teach asking for books.  Anyone that asked for a book got at least one. I even had kids taking books home for siblings. I realized this when one of my toughest boys was holding on to a fairy tale story book. When I asked and he explained it was for his little sister, I wanted to give him a huge hug.  Of course, I couldn't because that would totally have messed with his tough guy image! It was so great to send kids home with books they wanted to read over summer vacation.

I then spent the summer restocking. Books are everywhere! And, you don't have to spend a fortune to restock. You can go to a thrift store.  Thy always have a children's book section.  I went to library book sales and got these goodies below. Books at my local library run from $0.25 to $2.00.  I would say most of the books I purchased were about $0.50 each.  When buying used books, just keep in mind that it should look fairly new and be relevant to your readers.  Don't purchase more MUSTIE books to replace the MUSTIE books you've purged!

I ordered way too many books (That's not all of them by far!) from Amazon using points instead of cash.  This is great for getting newer, popular, and more current books.
(By the way, The One and Only Ivan?  I cried from the middle of the book to the end!  One of the best children's books I've read in a while.)

Finally, the last thing I did to restock my library was to go to the Scholastic Warehouse Book Sale where they had great deals.  There were dollar tables, and they offered Build a Box where you could stuff as many books in a box as possible for $25.  Th warehouse by me is having its next big sale in December.  I suggest clicking the link and seeing if there is a warehouse near you.

There are still many other sources for stocking your classroom library inexpensively:  
  • Ask parents!  You can send a flyer home with an upper grade class asking parents if they would like to donate any books their child may have outgrown. If there aren't younger siblings at home, you will probably have parents happy to donate when they know it is helping their child's school.
  • Facebook:  Many communities have online garage sales where people will post items they want to sell. Also, just putting the call out there on your personal page that you are seeking donations for your classroom library will often bring forward people who have books to give but just didn't think about it.  Of course, this works best when all your FB friends aren't teachers!
  • Ebay.  When searching for books, don't just look for one particular book.  I find I get more results when searching in the children's book category for "book lot." This way you get auctions for several books that are generally on the same level instead of individual titles. A couple of years ago I had a student that refused to read anything. Flat out refused to read.  Finally, I was able to interst him in the Bone graphic novels.  He liked the first one and said he would like to read another. Our school library didn't have it, so I was able to go on Ebay and purchase several books in the series for a fraction of what they would have cost anywhere else.  It was money I was happy to part with because my friend ended up reading all the books!
  • Craigslist:  I haven't used this myself for books, but I do see them listed.
  • Scholastic has an article on Ten Easy Ways to Get Books for Your Classroom Library.  It's an older article and some ideas I've suggested, but there are some others that might work for you.
  • Finally, this post from The Nerdy Book Club has lots of great ideas!
So, heading back to prep my room at the end of August with boxes of books turned in to quite a job! My library is sorted by level and by genre. Most of my books are leveled, even if they are not in a leveled basket.  One of the easiest ways I've found to do this is to mark the book level on the bottom of the book. It is not seen by all and then the book can be in the leveled baskets or the genre baskets. I have to say though that I am not a believer that a child should be tethered to certain books because of levels.  My students are allowed pick books that interest them. We use the reading levels more for guided reading instruction.  But, for this to work, you really need to be tuned in to what your friends are reading and how it is going.

This is posting on Tuesday morning.  After school this Tuesday afternoon I am planning to do a Periscope tour of my finished classroom library, sometime between 4-5 PM EST if you want to watch.  Connection is always a little sketchy in my classroom, but hopefully it will work and I can do the tour. The second post in this series is the Classroom Library Redo Part 2: Organization and Excitement!  This post will show you finished pictures of my library, how it is organized, my circulation procedures, and some extra tips on helping your students make the most of the library. If the Periscope tour works out, I will embed it in the post which should be up in a day or two at the longest.

Hopefully, you found this first part helpful.  Check back for part 2!
As always, thanks for reading!


40 comments:

  1. The world technical study and research is ongoing very fast all the one need a good guidance while writing the work.The latest fields of changing factors will be a great headache for students to start writing they can consider the writers support from any best services provider by considering the reviews.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CUSTOMISED WRITING HELP FOR
    COLLEGE ESSAY UK Our Online customized essay writing service gives an impeccable academic writing for college admission essays on almost any subject. Our native specialists are adept in writing any sort of essay, directly from persuasive article to school entrance essay. The essays are well-researched, accurate, 100% plagiarism free and custom written for all of your academic needs. You might even receive an on-demand plagiarism check account together with the last copy. Dissertation Writing Service

    ReplyDelete
  4. شركة تنظيف بالجبيل شركة شاه المثالية ترحب بكل عملائها وتقدم أقوى العروض في مجال التنظيف ومكافحة الحشرات .
    عزيزي العميل اذا كنت تريد ان تقوم بعملية تنظيف شاملة دون اللجوء إلى عاملات تنظيف بالساعه يستهلكون وقت وجهد ومبالغ طائلة فيجب عليك الاستعانة بأفضل شركة تنظيف بالمنطقة الشرقية بصفة عامة وبالجبيل بالاخص ..
    نحن نعمل جاهدن سعيا وراء ان نكون اقوى شركة في مجال التنظيف فنحن لدينا فروع كثير في كل انحاء المنطقة الشرقية وخاصة القطيف والخبر والاحساء والدمام والجبيل .
    فاا كنت تعانى من الاوساخ بصفة مستمرة كل ماعليك هو الاتصال بشركة شاهه المثالية للتنظيف بالدمام الأقوى في مجال التنظيف الجاف والبخار ومكافحة جميع انواع الحشرات اتصل الآن ولا تتتردد على الرقم التالي :
    0536968703

    شركة طيور الدمام لمكافحة الحشرات
    شركة ماسة لمكافحة الحشرات بالاحساء
    شركة واثق لمكافحة الحشرات
    شركة المثالية للتنظيف بالقطيف

    شركة المثالية للتنظيف بالدمام

    شركة المثالية للتنظيف بالخبر

    شركة المثالية للتنظيف بالجبيل

    افضل شركة مكافحة الحمام بالدمام
    شركة ورس لمكافحة الحشرات بالاحساء
    شركة ورس لمكافحة الحشرات

    شركة ورس بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف بالجبيل

    ReplyDelete
  5. An informative and definitely useful post for everyone who's keen on education!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful insights here. I keep following your writings and i am pleased with this too. Keep writing

    Do My Essay UK
    Write my essay for me
    Custom Essays Writers

    ReplyDelete
  7. People groups need to invest their valuable energy with young ladies and w make it simple for you give you confirmed Escorts stunning, lovely, exquisite Escorts In Doha

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for this information about the class room library. you are really helping teacher in need

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really liked this post, Library is very informative friends. People can get a friend those are alone. Keep giving updates.

    looking for friends

    ReplyDelete
  10. This post is genuinely incredible. I really like this post. It is remarkable among different posts that I ve read in a long time. You shake for this alright post. I genuinely welcome it! Carnet guri

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi my name is Megha, I am from Delhi only an Independent Escort Girl in Delhi am working in the best service provider agency in Delhi, NCR. I am an open-minded girl with my work as a professional. So, if you want to have a romantic experience, give me a call & book me.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I must say you had done a tremendous job, I appreciate all your efforts. Thanks a lot for your writings

    GCRACKS

    Inpixio Photo Studio Ultimate Crack

    PowerISO Crack

    Comfy File Recovery Crack

    IB KEYGEN

    ReplyDelete
  13. Surat Escorts

    Call Girls in Surat

    ………… /´¯/)
    ……….,/¯../ /
    ………/…./ /
    …./´¯/’…’/´¯¯.`•¸
    /’/…/…./…..:^.¨¯\
    (‘(…´…´…. ¯_/’…’/
    \……………..’…../
    ..\’…\………. _.•´
    …\…………..(
    ….\…………..\.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like reading through a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
    Jodhpur Escorts
    Jodhpur Escorts
    Jodhpur Escorts
    Jodhpur Escorts
    Jodhpur Escorts
    Jodhpur Escorts

    ReplyDelete
  15. A house cleaning company in Al-Ahsa depends on the use of the latest modern and advanced methods and methods in all cleaning and sterilization work for homes, by providing the latest equipment, tools and machines that work with tremendous power and superb and amazing capabilities in cleaning
    شركة تنظيف منازل بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف مجالس بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف موكيت بالاحساء

    Air conditioning cleaning company in Al-Ahsa provides all the cleaning works and services for air conditioners, as it carries out complete and comprehensive cleaning of the air conditioner from the inside and outside, depending on the latest modern and advanced methods and methods.
    شركة تنظيف مكيفات بالاحساء

    There are a lot of people asking and looking for a specialized party in cleaning tanks, so we have provided you with a tank cleaning company in Al-Ahsa, tank cleaning services of all kinds.
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالاحساء


    Al-Ahsa Insect Control Company is one of the first leading companies in the field of combating, attacking and exterminating insects, through its excellence and superiority in the control operations always everywhere and its superior ability to get rid of all kinds of insects, whether flying or crawling.شركة مكافحة حشرات بالاحساء
    شركة مكافحة الصراصير بالاحساء

    The termite control company in Al-Ahsa is interested in providing all the ingredients and capabilities necessary to combat and attack termites of all kinds, because the problem of ants is one of the problems facing many, many homes and homes.شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالاحساء

    A company that sprays pesticides in Al-Ahsa can combat any type of insects that haunt homes and cause anxiety, terror, tension and annoyance for the people of the house. and annihilated her on the spot.شركة رش مبيدات بالاحساء

    ReplyDelete
  16. McConnell said they are trying to find safe ways to help people stay active with the gyms closed. The same study noted that muscle-building can improve your resting metabolism because trained muscles actually use more calories than untrained muscles. It can also lower your body fat, the risk of Type 2 diabetes and blood pressure.

    Rhino Spark Male
    Xoth Keto BHB
    Insulux Comentarios
    Quick Flow Male Enhancement
    Keto Burn Advantage
    Keto GT Doctor Juan
    Xoth Keto BHB

    ReplyDelete
  17. Do you need an urgent loan of any kind? Loans to liquidate debts or need to loan to improve your business have you been rejected by any other banks and financial institutions? Do you need a loan or a mortgage? This is the place to look, we are here to solve all your financial problems. We borrow money for the public. Need financial help with a bad credit in need of money. To pay for a commercial investment at a reasonable rate of 3%, let me use this method to inform you that we are providing reliable and helpful assistance and we will be ready to lend you. Contact us today by email: daveloganloanfirm@gmail.com Call/Text: +1(501)800-0690 And whatsapp: +1 (501) 214‑1395

    NEED A LOAN?
    Ask Me.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The fees charged by Coinbase area unit pretty high. and that they will add up, particularly if you employ the service usually. you'll see the shopping for and merchandising fees we tend to delineated higher than. There may additionally be mounted and variable fees betting on the number of the dealings. And once your purchases area unit smaller, there's a flat fee charged.


    Read More:- coinbase support

    ReplyDelete
  19. You dropped a trip to/from the U.S. in somewhere around 24 hours of buying your ticket, gave you booked it online by means of KLM's U.S. site. This applies to a wide range of tickets. Your ticket conditions permit you to settle on a discount (i.e., you're holding a completely adaptable ticket in any movement class.

    Read More:- KLM Cancellation Policy

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for sharing this post. You are sharing very important points in this article and this article can be important for everyone. So we should time spend on this, But I will talk to you later. Because I am busy With my research work, I want to know complete detail about forum posting and I want to do this type of work for my websites and for my apps to get good traffic. So I am trusting nsdigiworld , because they are providing good service at a cheap rate. This firm is more popular and this firm working technique also great. So more detail, You can talk from this site expert. I hope so, You will like all the digital marketing services of this company and You will do work long term with this.

    ReplyDelete
  21. your posts are really good and informative, keep sharing such good content.
    5 Marla plots in Lahore

    ReplyDelete
  22. Awesome blog, thank you so much for sharing such an amazing information with us. Visit Import Globals for Vietnam Import and Export Data Services at Vietnam customs.
    Vietnam Import Data

    ReplyDelete
  23. I absolutely loved reading about your classroom library redo in part 1 of your series! Your dedication to creating an engaging and organized learning space for your students is truly commendable.
    seatgeek promo code 40

    ReplyDelete
  24. It is good to read your library experiences. Library is the place with full of positive vibe and knowledge. We can find peaceful atmosphere there. Anyway Thank you for sharing this article.
    Web design company Dubai | Best digital marketing agency in Dubai

    ReplyDelete
  25. Online birthday cards foster a sense of connection and solidarity, demonstrating that we are united in this journey. Continue to share happiness and positivity through these extraordinary birthday cards!

    ReplyDelete
  26. "Impressive work! This blog not only educates but also challenges readers to think critically ."
    slumberpod discount code

    ReplyDelete
  27. "This blog is a shining example of how to present complex ideas in a way that is accessible and engaging. It's a valuable resource for anyone interested."
    Canes Coupon Codes

    ReplyDelete