“Would you like to hear me read?” is the theme echoed in classrooms as staff and visitors enter during the reading block.  Students are excited about reading and above all, they are anxious to share their success with unsuspecting, but elated participants. 

Reading coaches Janine Silva and Suzanne Mawhinney relate the renewed excitement to reading at their school to the emphasis that has been placed on classroom libraries.  Teachers facilitate students and assist them in organizing classroom libraries.  The joint venture adds to building responsibility in maintaining the libraries as well as helping students understand the importance of choosing their ‘just right’ book! 

Some teachers used Dr. Jill Jones technique, Student Involved Classroom Libraries.  Dr. Jones suggests a series of steps to involve students:

1. Talk to students about categorizing or grouping providing several examples.
2. Ask students to talk about ways they would group books.
3. Place students in groups of 3 or 4, provide each group with a stack of books.
4. Ask students to place books into categories, i.e. fiction, non-fiction, Clifford books, holidays, math books, books about friends, books with animals as characters, mysteries, sports stories, fairy tales, poetry, student book picks, teacher picks, magazines, etc. 
5. Write categories on the board.  Pick one of the children’s categories and ask students to hold up books that go in that category.  Teacher collects books, and places them in baskets, clarify if needed. 
6. Repeat process daily for approximately 15-20 minutes until all books have become categorized.
7. Make labels for each basket of books and place colored dots on each book and corresponding label for student friendly maintenance. 
8. Place baskets of books in the library, and strategically place baskets of books around the room to create mini-reading-nooks.

Lexile or label some of the baskets with colors, numbers or letters to differentiate varying levels and communicate to students the books that are ‘just right’ for them.

Watch the excitement on the children’s faces as they eagerly choose their ‘just right’ book, and engage in reading with enthusiasm and excitement!