Having a classroom library that is unorganized and unappealing to student eyes can cause havoc in your classroom. Even if the school year has already started or you're in the last few months of school, I'm a firm believer that it is never too late to change something in your classroom! Follow these simple steps to quickly reorganize your classroom library to foster independent readers in your classroom. You can download the free classroom library contract to help set up your library for success here.
Prior to reorganizing your classroom library, you will want to decide on the best containers for your library. For this library, I decided to use the Rainbow Picture Book Library Storage Organizers. These baskets are great for picture and picture books. The colors are the perfect color scheme for any classroom and I love that I can fit multiple baskets on one shelf.
Now it is time for the most difficult part, organizing all books by genre. Place the Book Bin Genre Stickers on your classroom tables to help you quickly sort your books. This also ensures that you don't accidentally mix genres together while sorting! If time allows, you could have your students help with this step by incorporating it into a genre review activity.
Once you have sorted your books by genre, attach the Book Bin Genre Stickers to the front of your baskets and to the cover of each book. I would highly suggest NOT attaching the stickers prior to sorting your books. It is very likely that you may end up with many baskets for certain genres! If you realize you are missing a genre, add a label to a basket and place on your shelf. This will give you a place to quickly add books of this genre when you start expanding your collection. I love that the Book Bin Genre Stickers require no prep work!
Before giving students free rein to the library, create a list of library rules as a group. You can download the free printable here that includes a library contract and guidelines sheet. After you create the contract, make to have students sign the contract using a Sharpie. Now it's time to open up your library for student use!
It is important that your students have a place to store the books they are borrowing from the newly organized classroom library. I love to use the Book Buddy Bags because they are very durable and easy to use. Students are able to move around the room with their book bags during silent reading time and can cozy up with a Floor Pillow. To label each bag, I like to write the students names on the front with a sharpie.
Admire your work! This newly organized, colorful, student-friendly library will grasp your students' attention immediately. It won't be long before you have many independent readers in your classroom. And the best part is that the library is now ready to go for next year, too!
