The History teacher’s Classroom Library
As a social studies teacher, it may seem unusual to have a classroom library. However, I am a firm believer promoting reading is every teacher’s job. This is my eleventh year teaching, and I have had a classroom library every single year. One of the reason’s I started this blog is I would like to buy more books with affiliate link income. ( I currently have 0 affiliate links in my blog because I feel I haven’t added enough free helpful things. I will update if that changes)
Before I begin, let’s start with the number question: How do I get the books? I self fund the majority of the books. I refuse to get in the debate of whether or not I should be doing this. It is absolutely no one’s business how a stranger on the internet spends their money. Also, I’m a Christian and believe in tithing. I don’t tithe solely to the church I attend, and I don’t spend 10% of my paycheck on my classroom either. However, buying books is a part of my budget. I am blessed to have friends and family who have donated to my library through my amazon wish list. I currently teach at a title one school so I am able to buy from Firstbook marketplace. Halfpricebook sales and clearance section have been helpful also. I have not found thrift stores to be good places to buy books for older students.
How do I organize my books? I teach middle school, and I do it by genre. Books have their genre label n the back cover. This allows me to know what books my students are most interested in. It is hard to buy books for 100+ students. Many of my students can’t name their favorite genre so it makes it extremely hard. I am able to keep track of my books because of the BookBuddy+ app. I started off with an excel file, but it was too hard to look at after I collected one hundred books. I don’t use it to checkout books. I use the honor system for students to bring back books. I have a personal stamp with my name inside the books. This allows for books to be returned to me by other teachers who find them in their classrooms. Yes, I have lost over 20 books this year. I am fine with it. My books aren’t for me. They are for my students.
How do you get your shelves? I don’t have a Pinterest worthy looking collection. My shelves are from my favorite thrift store, Habitat for Humanity Restore. During the 2019-2020 school year I have tried to reuse, recycle, and reduce in my personal and professional life. Habitat for Humanity prices are usually very reasonable and most pieces only require paint. I’m constantly reorganizing my shelf. I do try to put known high interest books on the top.
What are my students currently reading? Graphic novels and Marvel are my current two most read genres. Picture books and juvenile fiction are tied for second place. My novel and mystery section are currently not being touched. I am seriously lacking manga books, and I hope to incorporate more next year. Last year I did a better job of pushing different types of books by displaying them on my whiteboard. I hope to do more of that next year.
Lastly, how do I get kids to read? I am lucky to be on a campus that has an advisory time. Students are required to read once a week in my room. I also have a strict policy about after tests procedures. Students must do a silent activity when they are finished. I always end the first week with a procedures quiz. Students must choose a book or silent activity such as coloring page or Sudoku before we begin. Sometimes I put books on students desk after test to see what they are interested in. I also take requests so I know what genres kids want to read. I try to read as many books as I can in my collection. Kids rely on my recommendations. If I haven’t read a book its hard. That’s why putting my books by genre are so important. As soon as I figure out what a kid likes, I am able to recommend the next book even if I haven’t read it. I try to buy as many books in a series as I can. I am big believer that book stores don’t have levels and neither will my classroom library. I do read books to determine if they are suitable my classroom. Students are asked to get another book if they feel it’s inappropriate for them (some middle school children can’t handle the mention of kissing in a Young Adult novel) .
How do I start my own classroom library? Look at your house for books that are collecting dust that you love. Put them somewhere students have access. Your classroom library has begun. Use your resources! I went to Instagram ELA teachers to recommend books. Ask your friends and family members to donate used books to your classroom. Create an amazon wish list. Even if you don’t buy it from amazon, the app allows to you have your list wherever you go. You can easily take student requests by using the app on your phone or computer. Find out when your local library has sales. Often they will give you even more discounts if they know you are a teacher. Whenever a teacher retires, ask to see their book collection. All my history books are from a teacher who moved. Lastly, take it one book at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others on the internet. Your collection is for your students!
Feel free to share any classroom library tips below!
