In schools I have been working in we have set up Classroom Libraries in each room. Students have helped choose new books and we have put them into themed baskets, e.g. Andy Griffith books, Adventure books, Science books etc., on new shelving in a central part of the classroom.
The purpose of this is to make sure all students have ready access to reading material that is of interest to them.
Each term we add fresh books to the baskets so students can have access to an even wider range of new books. Research shows that providing ready access to ‘Just Right’ reading material is a key ingredient to having success in reading.
‘Just Right’ means that the book is not too hard and not too easy for the student. Students have been helped in finding material that is ‘Just Right’ and ultimately we want them to become stronger at doing this for themselves.
Research also shows that another key ingredient to successful reading is having a high volume of ‘Just Right’ reading every day. So in lessons we work towards a higher volume of focussed reading as well. Students are able to practise their reading more often in meaningful ways.
Finally, we look at the strategies we use in our reading and do a lot of sharing about this. Talking about what we do helps to show each other our thinking and share our successes with each other.
Some comments from students:
Volume of Reading:
Hannah: “I have read more books during this semester than I have for the whole of last year”
Jesie: “I have read many books out of the Classroom Library. I have enjoyed reading information books.”
Zachary: “I have read three books already and they have been interesting.”
Amy: “I really want to read more and more books because I want to get better at reading, writing and spelling.”
Breanna: “I think if I read more and more books I will get better at my reading.”
Access to Books:
Kevin: “I don’t have to wait a week to change my book.”
Jaydan: “ You can read more books than just one, so you can read more.”
Alex: “It’s good because we can change our books anytime and they’re in our classroom.”
Maryanne: “I have more access to books.”
Just Right Books:
Chantelle: “The classroom library has helped me realise that reading is a good thing and it can be fun if you pick a ‘Just Right’ book.”
Trang: “I learned how to find myself a ‘Just Right’ book.”
Dan: “The books are now easier to choose.”
Tamara: “I can look at a book and read the first page and see if it is ‘Just Right’ for me. If it is hard I choose another that is right for me.’
Brendan: “I like ‘Just Right’ books because I understand what I am reading.”
Sharing Our Thinking:
Nhi: “I would like to share my reading and thinking with others. Talking and sharing will help me get better at reading.”
Tinh: “I sometimes go home and tell my sisters about the book I am reading, and that they should read it.”
Delilah: “I listen to people share and it helps me learn more.”
Kevin: “When I am talking about my book I can understand more words and grammar.”
Tamara: “When somebody talks about their book, it helps me learn how I can talk about my book.”
In General:
Toan: “The classroom library has increased my taste for reading. I’m really wanting to read the Naruto books and hope we get more.”
David: “Last year I didn’t like reading, now I do.”
Subramanian: “These are the best books I have ever had.”
Dijana: “I am happy we got the class library. All of the books are great.”
Sarah: “The books are cool and relaxing to read.”
Caitlyn: “Every time I read I feel more happy and more focussed. I am usually so focussed that I don’t want to stop reading and I have no idea what is going on around me. I am so interested in my book that I can picture what is happening in my story.”
Fateema: “I’d like to thank some people for buying the books. Thankyou!”
Some comments from a teacher:
“It is great having easy access to a wide range of current titles. Kids are getting better at choosing books at their level and not feeling embarrassed that they aren’t reading thick novels. They are reading way more and also reading a greater variety of genres and authors.” Ms M
Things for parents to try at home:
- When students borrow from the public library, read books at home or purchase books, encourage a ‘Just Right’ selection – not too easy and not too hard.
- Encourage nightly reading during a quiet time at home with as much ‘Just Right’ material as possible.
- Talk about the reading the child is doing with them sometimes. Get them to retell part of the story to you.
- Put some of your books in baskets with the covers facing towards the child to make selection easier and more appealing.
Key classroom organisation points:
- The classroom library has become a central feature of each classroom
- Labels are used to grab students' attention and to help students know where to return their books.
- Books have been organized into themes/authors with covers facing towards the students making selection easier and more appealing.
- Students are learning how important it is to choose a 'Just Right' book for themselves.
- We have comfortable areas and a greater amount of focussed reading time, called Independent Reading, to improve our reading.
- 'Super Cool' books appeal to student's imagination and interests and are great for students ‘in between' finding a good book to read. Besides books we have purchased, some books are from the local public library.
In our Teachific resources we have some great posters with comments about reading from children:
