I received some more great pictures of classroom libraries recently. Take a look at these pics from Cathy McLaughlin, who teaches kindergarten at St. Luke’s in Glenside, PA. You can still submit your pictures, just send them to d.diller@live.com and I will post them here on my blog!
Debbie Diller 
I love having my library organized and sorted into labeled baskets. I have stickers labeling books according to their basket to help books find their “home.” This year, my third graders are having a hard time returning books to their proper homes/baskets (even after several mini lessons and closing the library for repair). Do you have any tips that could help with this?
I love all your books. I am starting literacy work stations for the first time this year. I can’t wait to watch my students learn and grow through small groups and work stations!!
Thanks!
Karen
Atlanta, GA
Hi Karen,
Thanks for commenting on my blog and for reading my books! I’ll try to help with your question. Did you put the dots on the books, or did your students? I’ve found that often when students have ownership of the library by helping to come up with the system for organization, they do a better job of returning books to the proper places. Just a thought. Another idea is to look at how many books are in your classroom library. If it’s a lot, you might start with fewer books at first and then add more as students learn to manage the library.
Glad to know you’re doing mini lessons and problem solving with your kids. Sounds like you’re doing all the right things.
Please let me know how things are going with your library. Would love an update!
All the best,
Debbie
In response to Karen and Debbie’s post
This year, I have this amazing sixth grader. She came into my class speaking almost no English. However, at the beginning of the year, she volunteered to be the librarian. Since taking that job, she has alphabetized our entire classroom library, made little signs for each letter, and created a basket for students to put their return books into so she can file them. Our classroom library looks the best it ever has. I am so lucky! One idea for helping with the books with no homes is having a classroom librarian or two whose job it is to put the books away.
Hope that helps! 🙂 And thank you Debbie for the great blog. I love all the pictures of great classroom ideas. 🙂
Sincerely,
Sarah from Washington State
Thanks for writing, Sarah. I love writing the blog and being able to share all I’m learning as I travel to schools across the country. There are so many wonderful things going on in classrooms. I’m delighted to be able to share with others.
I loved your story about your student librarian. Inspiring!
Sarah, that is amazing that your student has found herself a useful place in your classroom all on her own! It will be amazing how much language she will pick up just from taking on this job and interacting with other students on the job’s behalf! This can really tear down barriers that might otherwise be very difficult to overcome!