[Foundational Literacy] Building Your Elementary Classroom Library

In today’s always-online world, text is everywhere. From the label on your cereal box to the captions on your Instagram feed. This makes literacy an absolute necessity. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we teach our children not just how to read, but how to quickly and accurately process and understand different reading materials and draw meaning from what they are reading.

It’s long been accepted that the best way to develop literacy skills in young readers is to simply get them reading. For teachers, building your own classroom library to supplement scheduled trips to your school’s library is a great way to encourage kids to look for books that interest them, explore new topics, and become proficient, independent readers. Here are six tips to help you create a top-notch classroom library so your bookworms can eat up some great reads!

1. Build your library around your readers

The best way to get your students interested in the books you put in your classroom library is by letting them choose what’s there! During class, ask your students to write down their top three favorite authors or books on a scrap of paper and turn it into you. For younger students, have a discussion about things that interest them and pay attention to what they gravitate toward on your next class trip to the school library. Now you’ve got your shopping list!

Money to fund your own personal library might be hard to come by, so check out your favorite local book store or other online retailers for great deals on used books. Garage sales and local thrift stores are another option for book bargain-hunting. Second-hand stores will often donate books to schools as well. See if there are any in your area that you can take advantage of. You can also offer extra credit to kids who bring in their own used books as donations to your classroom library. If you end up with books that aren’t at an appropriate level for your readers, you can re-donate the books to other teachers in your school, drop them off at your local charity, or (if they are in really bad shape) recycle them.

2. Make the library a happy place

While you may not have the space in your busy classroom to build the Library of Congress, you can still make your classroom library a cozy and appealing space for your students. Don’t be afraid to get crafty with your bookshelves and paint them soothing colors or patterns. Roll out a comfy rug to define the space, and make it easier for students to browse by grouping books by genre or author. Find a couple of big pillows or soft chairs for students who want to read in your ‘book nook.’ Just make sure your class knows the library is for reading, not napping!

3. Leverage digital literacy solutions

The world has gone digital, so don’t be afraid to take your classroom library into the digital realm, too. Online programs can be a great way to offer your students access to a broader range of engaging and appropriately-leveled reading materials, as well as resources to help students practice key literacy skills.

Edmentum’s dynamic 3-in-1 literacy solution, Reading Eggs, Reading Eggspress and Fast Phonics, features a library with over 2,000 e-books organized by genre and Lexile level. Students can browse these libraries independently to find an option that interests them, or you can assign specific selections. The library includes a wide variety of non-fiction titles, and many lower-level books can be narrated using the "Read To Me" feature. Comprehension quizzes and the ability for students to write their own “book reviews” help you ensure students are truly engaging with the material they’re reading.

And, to make reading a more collaborative experience, Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress feature over 300 “Big Books” that can be used on interactive whiteboards, as well as the option for narration on many lower-level books. Incorporate a couple of computers or tablets into your classroom library space to take advantage of tools like this and give your students additional options to connect with reading.

4. Pair reading with rewards

Reading logs are a great way to make use of your classroom library. Not only will they help you make sure your students are reading outside the classroom, they’ll also get parents more involved. By assigning a weekly reading log where students track what they’ve read and the amount of time they spent reading, and then requiring a parent sign off on it, you’re getting everyone more engaged developing literacy skills. 

Offering prizes to your students, like coupons for nearby restaurants, small toys or treats, or even extra credit points adds incentive for kids to remember to read when they are at home. For a more budget-friendly option, check out local businesses such as pizza places and theme parks that may already have reading programs in place that you can leverage for your students. Check out these free printables from Edmentum! The bookmarks include pre-made reading logs and get started right away.

5. Assign book reports

Nothing beats the classic book report. It’s a great way to make reading a class-wide participation experience, and challenge students to read for deeper comprehension. Have all of your students select a book from the classroom library to read and present a book report on. You may run into some trouble making sure your tech-savvy students don’t just scour the web for summaries instead of actually reading their pick, but this is easily remedied. Come up with unique and personal questions to ask your students to discuss in their reports: How did they feel about the main character of their book? How does this book compare to something else they’ve read recently? Were they surprised by the ending? Give each student time to present their book report to the class, and encourage students to read the books they find interesting. There are plenty of other creative book report ideas that skip the craft store.

6. Host classroom book-exchanges

Most people consider reading to be a solitary activity, but the sharing of stories is actually one of the oldest social activities on earth. Have your students participate in a classroom book exchange to help turn reading into a fun “get to know me” activity. Ask each student to bring in a book to lend to your classroom library. Then, have each student choose a title (help them find one at the appropriate level) and give them a deadline as to when they should have completed reading that book. Once the deadline has passed, and you are sure everyone has actually read their book  have your students pick a partner in the class to exchange books with. After reading, have the students meet up again and discuss what they both thought about the book. You could even have them do a group project together, like presenting a Venn-diagram to the class about the differences and similarities about each book, or creating a story board to describe their book’s plot and characters.

Looking for more ideas to prioritize literacy learning in your classroom? Check out this blog post for ideas and tips to get started with literacy stations!