The benefit? Much easier to book shop with my students and teach them independence in book shopping.
Currently we use guided reading levels, but as I went through I also wrote the Lexile level on my books since rumor has it we are switching school wide to lexile levels in the near future. (Work smarter, not harder!)
While checking out different websites for leveling books I stumbled across my new favorite website!
http://classroom.booksource.com/
This website has a great companion app that works on the iPad and the iPhone and allows you to scan the books in your library.
Once you scan the book it will tell you the guided reading, DRA, and lexile level--then you can add the book to your library.
After books are added to your library you can use your iPhone or iPad to check them out to students! I LOVE this feature--I can track what genre and levels my students are choosing to read and families know what books are in our library so students can plan ahead what they might want to choose next to add to their book bags.
Plus if I need a book for a read-aloud etc. I can check what student has my book. Love, Love, Love!
While I leveled my books by guided reading level and color
(I use a combination of two websites to level my books http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/ and http://www.lexile.com/ when I can only find either a Guided Reading OR Lexile level I use the conversion chart http://www.readinga-z.com/readinga-z-levels/level-correlation-chart/ from Reading A-Z since we use Raz-Kids and give the DRA as an assessment!)
Pink: K and under
Orange: L and M
Yellow: N
Green: O
Blue:P
Purple: Q and up
My book bins are organized by author, genre, or interests
Examples:
"Touched by the Teacher" books that are special to me, or I may use for read aloud etc.
"Rainbow Fish Books" books in the Rainbow Fish series
"Chapter Books about School" a basket of chapter books that are set in schools
My baskets are a mix from "Really Good Stuff" (http://www.reallygoodstuff.com/book-and-binder-holder-with-stabilizer-wing/p/159490/) for my blue bins
And my baskets are my favorite shape from Dollar Tree!
I used commercial strength packing tape to secure my labels to my blue bins, and used one inch binder rings to secure my labels to the Dollar Tree bins.
I LOVE binder rings--I've easily gone through 200 setting up my room and stations...
This bench ones was on my favorite Target finds late this summer.
The cushion was ugly so I covered it with some cute fish fabric from Wal*Mart.
Around the tables that I use to hold my book bins I "dressed" them with an underwater skirt from Oriental Trader.
I love the fun feel it gives to my room, and it makes my library and circle area feel like a nice separate nook!
I love having morning meeting and mini lessons in the library nook--it's just so cozy!!
To complete the fun underwater theme in my library I found this GREAT reading tent from
Oriental Trader (http://www.orientaltrading.com/under-the-sea-canopy-tent-a2-58_5015-12-1.fltr?Ntt=reading)
And this super cute Buzz and Woody table and chair set from a Benny's store near me--on sale for $10.25 this past summer. What a find!
A close up of my reading labels! Click below to get your FREEBIE
(editable!!)
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