Classroom Libraries

Classroom Libraries are levelled books that are used for the Independent Reading portion of your Literacy Block.  The Level on the book corresponds to the students reading level as assessed using a standardized assessment tool (i.e. PM Benchmark).  

We will create a unified school wide system for our Classroom Libraries over the next couple of weeks.    This system will have several advantages:

• we will know exactly how many of each level we have for all reading levels
• allow sharing of libraries
• provides students with 'Just Right' books
• variety for students
• 'common language' that teachers and students understand
• allows us to 'fill the gaps' without duplication

Overall, an effective Independent Reading program is an integral portion of a Balanced Literacy Block.  It allows your Guided Reading portion to take place as the students are engaged in an appropriate reading level.  Also, it gives 'meaning' to your Shared Reading portion as the students are engaged to find more strategies to improve their reading.

Our first order of business will be to have a 'Book Leveling' Party.  Each teacher will bring out their Independent Reading books to the Learning P.I.T. after school one night and using the computers and other resources we will collectively 'Level' books and place them into bins.   

Of course this is a very brief overview.  I'm interested in hearing other ideas...