Classroom Library

Hip, hip, hooray…our classroom library is officially open! In this blog post, I will share with your some ideas for how to hold a grand opening for your classroom library!

Well, it actually has been open since September 18th, but I am just now having the opportunity to sit down and write this blog post! Today I want to share with you what leads up to our grand opening of the classroom library, and why I make it such a big deal with my students.

When students walk into my classroom on the first day of school, I have the caution tape up over the bookshelves. It usually takes a few days before a curious and brave student asks, “What is this tape up here for?” I explain that the classroom library is currently closed, because we have not learned the procedures for how to use the classroom library. In order to use any library, like the local or school library, the readers need to know the procedures for how to browse, check out, and return books.

Want to watch my video about my grand opening ideas? Click below!

In the first few weeks of school, I teach different procedural mini-lessons to successfully implement an independent reading workshop with my second graders. Several of the mini-lessons teach my students about how the classroom library is set up and how the books are organized. I explain that the books are organized just like a book store, in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.

I actually show my students pictures of how books in a “real” bookstore are organized, and explain that our library mimics that.

Once my students understand HOW the library is organized, I then teach my students how to check out books and return the books. Students learn about their assigned shopping day, where they are allowed to check out three books at a time.

If you want to learn more about how I set up my classroom library shopping schedule, click here: Implementing Reading Workshop

Or, click on the image below.

FINALLY, once my students understand these procedures, THEN they are ready for the grand opening of our library! By this time, my students are dying with excitement to dive into the bookshelves and check out their books!

We write a letter to our principal, requesting her presence at our grand opening. Why? Because I want to make this a REALLY BIG deal! I want my students to see that this is a very exciting moment of our school year- something to celebrate! I also love to invite our principal to our class for POSITIVE moments. Often, it seems like the principal is usually found dealing with problems, and I want her to see the awesome things that we are doing in class.

Our letter:

“Hello, How are you today? We hope you are having a great day. We would like for you to attend the Grand Opening of our classroom library. We are reay for you to take down the caution tape so that we can start book shopping! Are you available on Thursday afternoon? If so, please email our teacher a time that works for you. We are so excited to see you!

Sincerely, Ms. Kozerski’s Super Star Readers”

These lucky readers were randomly selected to go to the PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE to deliver THIS INVITATION! They were a tad bit nervous, but so excited!

When our principal arrives, there is always an exciting cheer and lots of clapping! I thank her for coming and explain all of the mini-lessons that I have taught up to this point, which led us up to the GRAND opening! She then proceeds to take the caution tape off the bookshelves, and of course..takes a picture with the class! This picture I make a copy of, so that my students can glue it into their readers’s notebooks as a special memory. Each student also gets to take a piece of the caution take home- you would be surprised how excited this makes them. :)

The students then spend some time asking our special guest questions about her reading habits, behaviors, and interests. For example, “Who is your favorite author?” and “How many minutes do you read per day?” The kids love this opportunity to learn more about their principal in this manner.

After our principal leaves, our shoppers of the day have the first “dibs” on checking out books from the library! They know how to use the classroom library stick holders, the book check out system, and the best part…they get to sit on the sofa to enjoy their books!

How do you introduce your classroom library to your students? I would love to hear from you about the different strategies you use to build the excitement of opening up your classroom library!