Victoria Ferguson-Blog post 1 "Organize an Outstanding Classroom Library" Routman

Blog Post 1: Chapter 5- Routman

Organize an Outstanding Classroom Library

            “Classroom libraries are a literacy necessity; they are integral to successful teaching and learning and must become a top priority if our students are to become thriving, engaged readers” –Routman The last part of this statement holds true to one of my goals as a classroom teacher, to help students become “thriving, engaged readers.” The summer before I started teaching, I went to several interview for different teaching positions. In almost every interview they asked, “If I (we) walked into your classroom, what would we see?” I would always give all the details, however I always mentioned a classroom library. I always mentioned it, yet didn’t know its importance until I started teaching.

            Routman discusses how classroom libraries and books improve reading achievement. In this section Routman states that our libraries need books that are interesting to our students. The other day another teacher and I talked about how each year we fill our libraries with books that we see out students reading, and then the next year the new group of students have a totally different interest. This will happen form year to year, and it is our job to keep books in our libraries that interest students. This section of the chapter also discussed students having access to books at home. I believe our school does a great job with book clubs (scholastic), helping families obtain library cards (literacy night), and suggesting titles to parents.  As a school we need to continue to encourage parents and students to engage in reading at home.

            In the next section of the chapter Routman discussed some questions for educators to consider.  One question that stood out to me , and made me think of new teachers was “Are most of the books in the library written by well-known children’s authors, or are they part of a program that has been created and leveled by a publisher? Most new teachers, myself included receive hand-me down books, or books left over from the teacher who retired in that classroom. Or we get books that were intended for guided reading in a reading series used previously. We as educators need to make sure new teachers (even some veteran teachers) know the popular authors. We need to provide them with list, previous interest of our students, etc. When I was a first year teacher all I knew to order was a group of second grade books. I didn’t know the popular authors, the books titles that kids loved. I feel that making sure new teachers are aware we could help their classroom libraries to be engaging from the beginning.

            This chapter mentioned books talks. I hope to do a better job at really talking books and authors up in my classroom this year. I also want to get my students involved. If they liked a book, I want them to share it. This would be a great way to engage students in reading new books!

            The idea of the rain gutters is awesome! I love this cheap way to display books for students. I used to book a group of books up each week during my first year of teaching. This year I would like to try to have students choose the books we want to display. I could use the rain gutters to show these books suggested by our peers.

            I loved at the end of the chapter when the author makes the connection between classroom libraries and the time allowed for small, guided reading instruction. This chapter provided me with new ideas about my classroom library. I am encouraged to keep it inviting and filled with popular books.