Goals/Benefits Time/Structure Sample Lessons Routines Texts Assessment

Facilitator Notes

Why are classroom libraries important?

How do you organize your classroom library?

What other materials in addition to books are available for Independent Reading?

Why are classroom libraries important?

  • Children read 50 to 60 percent more in classrooms with their own libraries than in those without them. (Morrow 2003, Kim 2003, Neuman 1999). – Miller, Debbie, and Barbara Moss. 2013. No More Independent Reading Without Support. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Children in high-income families have access to 4,000 times the number of books as children from low-income homes! (Neuman 1999 cited in Miller and Moss 2013) Therefore, well-stocked classroom libraries are essential to narrow the access gap between high and low income students.
  • The quantity of books per child in a classroom library is one of the criteria of overall effectiveness of the literacy environment, and correlates with test scores. Three levels were found: inadequate (1-7 books), basic (8-19 books), and outstanding (20 or more books) by Hoffman, Sailors, Duffy, and Beretvas 2004. – Morgan, Denise N., Maryann Mraz, Nancy D. Padak, and Timothy Rasinski. 2009. Independent Reading: Practical Strategies for Grades K-3. New York: The Guilford Press.

The teachers in the South Carolina classrooms highlighted in this module have classroom libraries of 600 – 1500 books.

How do you organize your classroom library?

Classroom Library (Kindergarten)

Video: Teacher Commentary,

Transcript

Irby DuBose,

Kindergarten

Classroom Library (Grade 1)

Video: Teacher Commentary,

Transcript

Apryl Whitman, Grade 1

Classroom Library (Grade 2)

Video: Teacher Commentary,

Transcript

Christy Long, Grade 2

What other materials in addition to books are available for Independent Reading?

Materials (Kindergarten)

Video: Teacher Commentary,

Transcript

Irby DuBose,

Kindergarten

Materials (Grade 1)

Video: Teacher Commentary,

Transcript

Apryl Whitman, Grade 1

Materials (Grade 2)

Video: Teacher Commentary,

Transcript

Christy Long, Grade 2