K. Malmquist post 4: Routman, Organize an Outstanding Classroom Library

I believe in having a huge classroom library.  The more books we are able to put in our children's hands, the better it is for everyone.  This goes back to student choice as well because we want to provide the opportunity for students to have the choice of saying they do not like a book or want to try something new.

On page 64 Routman says, "children read a great deal more when they have easy access to books, and well-designed, organized, ample classroom libraries provide the easiest access for students."  We need to give the students books, and make sure they are easy to access and understand.

One thing that I think we need to remember is, as Routman says on page 65, "It really doesn't matter much what kids read as long as they read and enjoy what they're reading."  Sometimes we tend to get caught up in what we "think" students should be reading, we forget to celebrate what they are reading.  I remember being so excited as a child going on road trips because I could read the signs and figure out where we are going; this is such an everyday thing that I experience as an adult that I could discount that excitement I had as a little girl being able to "help" my dad as we went on family trips.  The same goes for what our students are reading and not reading; we should celebrate that they are taking the time and reading a book (that they hopefully enjoy) instead of focusing on what they are not reading.  By showing them the love of reading today, they can grow into that great reader.

On that same note, on page 69 author says, "Students do not naturally gravitate to leveled or overly structured collections.  When they can choose from a rich and varied assortment, a leveled book or a phonics reader is not usually a first choice." This is the first year that I have worked with kindergarten students, and on the first day of their related arts I was a little worried about what books I would have picked out for the students.  I wanted to make sure that the students were choosing something that they could possibly pick out a few words in, and that would make them into better readers.  Ha ha ha.  I probably chose some of the worst books for the group because I did pick out the phonics and beginning readers.  I learned my lesson, and while I still strive to find books with a larger font and less words on the page, I also look for books that will interest the students and they can read the pictures.  I also included a lot of nonfiction for the students to choose from because we have an amazing selection.
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While it would be improbable to rearrange the library year after year (it's almost impossible), I do need to make sure that I am advertising the books.  We have baskets throughout the library with popular series to help students locate books, and to help catch the eyes of browsers.  

We need to be excited about our books, and sell what we have available.  I love promoting the public library because it increases our access to books.  If one of my students has read all of my books on cheetahs, they can go to the public library and find even more.  The same is true for the classroom library: a teacher may have one or two books in the series and I might have a whole collection for the students to read.