Build Your Classroom Library!

The library is my favorite part of the classroom.  Each year I spend the most time and money on this section of my room.  Why? Well, I love books and I love reading and I love sharing both of those things with my students.  

I have a huge range of books and several more bins of books in my garage. These books didn't make the cut for my classroom right now, but will likely be brought in later in the year as my students become better readers.  (This rotation of the books keeps my library fresh and exciting.) 

Here are some good ways to build your classroom library without breaking the bank...

 

1) Half Price Books: I hope you all have a Half Price Books near you.  This is a great place to find used books in good shape at a good price.  Plus, you can sign up for a 10% teacher discount.  They also have a clearance rack most of the time and I have found some great titles on there. I usually just scan the chapter book section, but I have found the picture books to be a bit overwhelming.  They are sorted  by author, so go in with a list.  Believe me...it will save you time.  I once left a great writing workshop with 10 titles of mentor texts and found half of them at my local HPB for a fraction of the cost and all in paperback! (I prefer paperback at this point because it is lighter and thinner which makes it easier to store.) Love it!  Click here to find a store near you.

2) PaperBack Swap: I just discovered this website this summer and it is terrific! Basically, you post books you have already read and would be willing to "swap" with someone else. Once you post 10 books, you are given 2 credits to begin ordering your own books.  It's so easy. You just search and click "order book" when you find one you want. You earn credits when others order from you. You only pay to mail off your books.  When you order a book, you pay nothing.  You can also create wish lists and "wait in line" for books.  Once a wish list book has been posted, you are notified by email.  After changing grades so many times, I realized I had a lot of books that were just way too high for my 4th graders.  I also had books that had been in my classroom for years and never been cracked.  I decided to use my experience and knowledge to sort my books.  I posted books that weren't getting used and started searching for books I knew interested my students.  Out with the old and in with the new!  Come join the fun by clicking here! 

3) Scholastic Book Orders: I think most teachers already use this program, but if you don't already load up in September, start doing it!  The back to school issue is always the best for bonus points, so go ahead and max yourself out.  Get all the points you can get.  I do this at the beginning of the year and then just use my bonus points for all my future buys throughout the year. Sign up for your catalog here!

4) Student Donations:  I have also had several generous students and families donate to my library.  I have a special "Donated By" sticker for these books, which the kids love.  I have to be careful though... sometimes the books they want to give you are not the books you are looking to add to your library.  :)

Any other secrets for adding to your classroom library? I'd love to hear your ideas... please comment below.

Lables are a teacher's best friend!

Okay, so as a teacher I have a serious school supply addiction!  I love markers, pens, post-its, cute notebooks, etc.  Does anyone else have drawers, and I do mean drawers, of pens you just had to have because it makes grading papers so much more fun??  Anyone?  Gosh, I hope I'm not the only one.  Well, today I would like to salute another favorite office supply... the one... the only... the extremely wonderful label! I have a box of both white mailing labels and white shipping labels that I keep at my disposal at all times.

Here are some of the ways I use labels in my classroom:

BOOK BASKET LABELS

I label all my book baskets using shipping labels that I put on index cards.  Then, I use packaging tape to attach the index cards to the baskets.  The best part about this system is that I can change baskets at anytime.  Nothing is permanent and since I am constantly reorganizing my library, it works for me.  I recreated my labels this year and added a little color.  I was really happy with the way they turned out.  Click the links below to see my labels up close! If you would like to borrow and modify, leave your email and I will send you the original documents.  I could only get them to upload in PDF.

Labels #1, Labels #2, Labels #3

BOOK LABELS

Each book is labeled with it's genre and proper "home" in the library.  It makes life much easier.

NOTEBOOK & FOLDER LABELS

I also use shipping labels to print labels for student notebooks and folders.  This year, I created my labels a bit differently.  In the past, I always printed sheets full of the same label.  But, I saw great idea on another blog (couldn't locate the post, please let me know if it was you, so I can give credit)  to put all the labels a kid will need on one sheet and then just print one sheet per kid.  Duh!  How brilliant is that? So this year, I put everything together on one sheet for a kid and was even able to split the sheet between two kids! I kept them simple and in black and white to save ink. The line is for students to write their name in marker. 

STUDENT NAMES

Once I get my class list, I create a document of mailing labels with student names.  Then I print 10 copies.  You would not believe how often these little guys come in handy.  The kids can label their pencil boxes, book boxes (I buy the 5 pack of white magazine holders from IKEA each year), notebooks, marker boxes, etc.  The possibilities are endless and I find these are just good to have on hand.

WEBSITE REMINDER

Each year my school has Open House the week before school starts.  Students come and see their classrooms and meet their teacher.  Each grade level also does a presentation about what to expect for the year.  We have combined Open House with Meet the Teacher Night because we find we get the best turn out at the first event.  Anyway, each teacher sends out reminder post cards to our class.  Everything is printed, we just sign our name and add a "can't wait to see you there."  This year, I printed mailing labels to add to the postcards with my class website.  I'm hoping parents and students will check out our website and blog before school starts and get super excited for the year!

I'm sure there are many more wonderful ways to use labels in the classroom.  Please share your great ideas!!