As classroom teachers, we know how important it is to have a fully-stocked classroom library that includes a variety of genres, topics, plot lines, characters, settings, cultures, reading levels, etc. It is important for students to easily access texts that are interesting to them, show characters, plots, and settings that they can connect to themselves and their own lives, and show other cultures and other forms of diversity that they can begin to learn about. The problem is that school budgets rarely provide enough classroom library books and the responsibility falls on the teacher to fill the shelves with books. So, what do we do? We need to get creative and find free and cheap books for our classroom libraries. But. where can teachers get free books? I’ve got you covered! Read below to get some ideas about where to find free books for teachers!

How Many Books Should a Classroom Library Have?

The number of books in a classroom library will vary based on grade level, space, and the subjects and content you teach. Although I have read some research-based articles that recommend an average of 20 books per student, I do not think there can be a set rule. Below are some questions to consider based on your specific situation.

1. What grade level do you teach?

While all classrooms need lots of books, the younger grades can get by with less than older grades. Kindergarten and first grade students are in the “learn to read” phase. They will be participating in a lot of guided reading lessons and phonics-based instruction. Although you will have some advanced readers, overall the spectrum of levels will range from non-readers to about a second grade level at most. Fourth and fifth grade teachers will find that a typical class of students will have struggling readers who are well-below grade level in the same room as students who are reading at a high middle school level. For that reason, upper elementary teachers will find it necessary to have a vast collection of titles within the classroom.

2. How much space do you have in your classroom?

The square footage, quantity and size of your students, and the layout of your classroom will factor into the size of your library. If you have a large area, then by all means jam it with lots and lots of literature. If you are tight on space or if you don’t have adequate storage, then you may need to get creative. 

3. What are you responsible for teaching?

If you teach in a departmentalized classroom and are the person in charge of literacy, then you will obviously want to fill the space with as many books as you can possibly squeeze in there. If you are the teacher responsible for math and science, you are not off the hook. While you will not need as many books as your ELA counterpart, you should have a collection of titles that relate to the content areas you teach.  If you are a generalist who teaches all subject areas, then you’ll need books at varied reading levels, subject areas, as well as seasonal and thematic titles. In this case, I suggest rotating titles out and dividing your books into smaller classroom libraries. I wrote a recent blog post that will help you in that situation and welcome you to check it out here. 

15 Ways to Get Free or Cheap Books for Your Classroom Library

Below are some ways teachers can get free and cheap books.

1. Borrow from Your Local Library

Check out books from your town’s public library. This is a great idea for seasonal books that you need for a short period of time.

2. Borrow from Your School Library and Book Room

Head down the hall to your school library and book room and checkout some books for your classroom.

3. Take Advantage of the Scholastic Reading Program

Make the most of book club order catalogs. Teachers can earn free books by accumulating points when their students order books from those colorful catalogs. They are a great opportunity to acquire new copies of recently published books as well as some classic titles as well. Because of the way the points typically multiply as your order total goes up (i.e. order $50.00 and get 2x the bonus points, order $75.00 and get 3X the bonus points) it is extremely beneficial to optimize your sales. 

While you do not want families to overextend their budgets, there are plenty of parents who aren’t ordering books simply because the catalog gets lost in the shuffle of all the papers that come home from school. With today’s busy lifestyles it is not uncommon for the order forms to land in the recycling bin.

You can solve this problem by attaching purposeful learning activities to the forms as homework. I’ve created a set of book order activity pages that greatly increase the amount of bonus points teachers earn. I regularly used them to practice math and writing skills using the book order catalogs. By encouraging the parents to put their eyes on the order form and providing students with an engaging activity that caused them to look beyond the plastic toys and current pop star posters that sometimes appear in the catalog the number of orders increased dramatically and I earned so many free classroom library books as a result.

4. Make a Scholastic Book Fair Wish List

Many schools host a scholastic book fair. At my school, teachers got to put together a wish list bin that parents could buy a book for. If your school has this opportunity, definitely take advantage!

5. Ask for Books from a Retiring Teacher’s Collection

At the end of the school year, check in with teachers who are retiring to see if they have any books they’d like to leave that you can scoop up.

6. Set Up an Amazon Wishlist

Consider setting up an Amazon Wishlist that you share with friends and family so they can purchase books for you to use at school. Check in with your administration to see if you can share it with your students’ families as well. Most books are available on Amazon and are pretty good prices. Take to social media to share your request and ask that even if people aren’t able to donate they help your students by spreading the word and sharing your post.

7. Set Up a Donor’s Choose

Set up a donor’s choose project for your classroom. This is a popular option! Again, take to social media to share your request and ask that even if people aren’t able to donate they help your students by spreading the word and sharing your post.

8. Ask Former Students for Donations

Reach out to your alumni and ask them to keep you in mind when they are cleaning out their rooms and bookshelves at home. Because these books are coming from their home libraries they will typically be recent titles in excellent condition. Be sure to mail a hand-written thank you card to any student who donates.

9. Ask Students’ Families for Donations

As I mentioned earlier, be sure to check in with your administration to see if you can do this. This is another easy way for teachers to get free books for their classroom library!

10. Post in Facebook Groups

If your town or community has a Facebook group, post a request. Many families with grown children have large collections of books that they’d be happy to pass on.

11. Shop Stores that Sell Used Books

Used books stores, children’s consignment stores, and Goodwill are all good options of stores that sell used books.

12. Venture Out to Yard Sales

Find the ones that mention children’s items because most likely if they are selling toys and games for the age level you teach they will also have books to get rid of. Explain that you are a teacher building your classroom library and ask simply that they consider you if there happen to be any left over books when the sale is over.

13. Browse Online Yard Sales

Check out Letgo, Facebook, Craigslist, and other similar sites and apps.

14. Post on Social Media

I can guarantee there is at least one mom on your Facebook friends list that is overwhelmed with the clutter in her home and would love nothing more than to pass on a box full of books to you.

15. Raid Your Childhood Collection

If your parents still have the books you read as a child, ask if you can take them and use them in your classroom with your students.

Grab the Free Reading Resources!

In closing, we hope you found these ways teachers can get free books helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in this post about classroom library checkout systems!

If you want to get more reading ideas and resources for your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!

The post Free Books for Teachers: Stock Up Your Classroom Library in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Below is a list of 15 tips that I’m sharing based on what worked well in my classroom for over a decade. My system was very easy to manage and 98% effective, which was good enough for me! My system is easy to manage because there is no system. You read that right… I don’t have a system. Over the years, I experimented with elaborate check out systems. I even bought adhesive pockets to put into my books at one point. I’ve tried sign out sheets. I have played around with having students or parent volunteers play the role of a librarian to track where the books were and when they were returned.

I found it was all a waste of time and, quite honestly, books still went missing or became damaged, so I stopped trying to monitor which students were in possession of which books. Instead, I simply set up a few guidelines for using the library and borrowing my books. Learn about the simple guidelines I put in place by reading the 15 classroom library checkout system tips below!

15 Tips for Lending Out Books to Students

Below are 10 tips for lending out classroom library books to elementary students. You’ll have the information you need to create your own classroom library checkout system.

12 Tips for Lending Books to Read in the Classroom

1. Only Allow 3 Books to be Borrowed at a Time

Allow students to take three books at a time. This gives them some variety to choose from, but is still an easy amount to manage.

2. Give Each Student a Book Bag

I found using gallon-sized Ziploc bag works best. They needed to be replaced throughout the year, but since they don’t cost a lot that was not a problem. I had used canvas book bags in the past for each student, but much preferred the plastic bags because I could write their names on the outside, easily see how many books they had, and they could even keep a pencil inside for logging notes into their interactive bookmarks.

3. Do Not Allow the Books to Leave the Classroom

Don’t allow the books in the book bag to leave the classroom. This will solve the problem of lost books. There may be times a child doesn’t know where a book is, but this way it will be more likely to turn up.

4. Label All of Your Books

I used a Sharpie and wrote my name on the front and the back of each book. There were times a book “accidentally” was taken out of the classroom, but they almost always returned.

5. Keep Your Classroom Library Organized

I made sure my library was well organized. This was accomplished by engaging my students in many activities to teach them about genre (you can learn more about how I did that here), so I could organize the classroom library like a real library or bookstore. They will never walk into a Barnes and Noble and ask for a “level L picture book” or “something with a Lexile Level in the 600 range”, so I felt strongly that they should understand real world organizational systems of books. Their understanding of genre, in conjunction with sturdy containers in appropriate sizes and a labeling system, made it easy for responsible students to keep the library organized.

6. Use a Book Hospital

We also had a “book hospital.” This was simply a dishpan that was labeled. The students knew to place “injured books” inside. Parent volunteers knew to check the hospital when they came in to help and would automatically fix them and put them into the book return location for my student librarian to re-shelve.

9. Set Clear Expectations

Set very clear expectations. Remind them that the books are part of the community and need to be treated with care and respect so that future students can enjoy them.

7. Explain, Model, and Practice Routines

Plan to explain, model, and practice the routines for browsing, borrowing, and returning books from the classroom library just like you would any other classroom procedure or routine.

8. Open Your Library Slowly

Consider opening your library slowly. Allow students to select from specific areas at first and then expand it as the routines become established.

10. Assign a Classroom Librarian

Being in charge of the library was one of our classroom jobs. When a student was finished with a book, he or she would place it into the return bin and the classroom librarian was responsible for putting it back into the correct spot. Don’t randomly pick students to be the classroom librarian. Be very selective and choose responsible kids who will take the job seriously.

11. Close Your Classroom Library when you are Absent

Add the words, “The classroom library is CLOSED when I am absent” to your sub plans. Trust me on this one.

12. Utilize Technology

If you would prefer to experiment with a more elaborate classroom library checkout system, there are options such as classroom library checkout scanners and classroom library checkout apps that some teachers have found useful.

3 Tips for Lending Books to Read at Home

Because I stopped allowing my students to take my classroom library books home, it was important to me to find a new way to make books available outside the classroom for all my readers. I knew many of them did not have access to much literature after school hours. My solution had three parts.

1. Create a Separate Lending Library

I created a lending library in my classroom. This was a smaller selection of books that were only used for the purpose of taking them home to enjoy. I stocked this little library with books that had been donated to me, books that were duplicates of titles in the classroom library, and books that were in sad shape, but still had some life left in them.

In addition to the actual books that were available for checkout, I kept a collection of printable books (from www.readingatoz.com) stocked for take-home use. It is a membership site that requires a subscription, but you can do a free trial membership.

2. Use a Sign Out Sheet

I had a sign-out sheet to make it feel more official, but in all honesty I never looked at it. It was simply a method of increasing responsibility and accountability.

3. Collaborate with the School Librarian

Finally, for my students who I knew truly lacked quality literature at home, I collaborated with the school librarian and made arrangements for them to take home an extra book each week.

In closing, I hope you found these tips for managing books that are borrowed from your classroom library helpful. In my experience, a couple books may become damaged or lost, but honestly, no more so than when I was logging every book a student was using. The time savings is huge and more than makes up for the very rarely misplaced book. If you found this post helpful, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Students
• Classroom Paper Organization Ideas that Work
• Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers

The post 15 Classroom Library Checkout System Tips for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

7 Classroom Library Organization Ideas

Below are some classroom library organization ideas for teachers at the elementary level.

1. Scale Down Your Book Collection

Of course you want a robust collection of children’s literature in your classroom. However, that doesn’t mean that the more books you have out, the better. Scale down your collection of books that are on display at a given time and remove ones that aren’t developmentally appropriate or interesting to students at your grade level.

2. Create Mini Libraries

Break your library up into different sections (picture books, non-fiction, chapter books, and temporary books) and store them in separate areas of the classroom. Instead of one oversized library, offer mini-libraries around the room. This makes it possible for several students to look for new books without feeling crammed, which decreases off task behaviors, lowered noise levels, and prevents behavior problems proactively.

3. Invite Students to Help Sort Your Books by Genre

Regularly use the games and activities in the Teaching Students about Genre Resource to have your students regularly help you sort new books that are brought into the classroom. This provides real world practice of the skills and helps them navigate the library easier throughout the year.

4. Mirror Your Library to a Real Library or Bookstore

Stop leveling the books that are accessible to the students to pick on their own. The real world does not group books by reading levels, so it is important to create an environment that would prepare them for selecting books at the local library and bookstore. Students need ample opportunities to pick books for pleasure, based on interest, and that are both above and below their reading levels.

5. Keep Instructions Materials Separate

Keep the texts that you use for instruction in a separate area for just you to access. Have students select from the appropriate baskets after your reading conferences, but only give them access to “just right books.” Students should be regularly reading books at the level that will help them grow and progress as readers.

6. Celebrate and Showcase New Books

Develop ways to showcase new books so that your students have a list of desired books they know they want to read and aren’t wasting time sifting through your collection. I did this in a few ways. Whenever a new box of books from our class book order arrived, I would gather everyone together in our class meeting space and make a production out of unboxing the books one at a time. I also continued to regularly check books out of the town library that I would bring to school in a canvas bag. There was always great excitement when they noticed I had a full canvas bag next to my desk in the morning. I always kept these books standing up along our back shelf with the cover facing out.

7. Rotate Your Books on Display

Rotate books throughout the year. Books should be constantly changed out to reflect seasonal interests and units of study. Keeping things new and fresh makes your friends want to get their hands on the literature before it is gone. Think about supply and demand. If books are only available for a short time, students will want to get their hands on them fast!

In closing, we hope you found these classroom library organization ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Organization Ideas for a Small Classroom
• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• Classroom Library Checkout Systems for Classroom Teachers

The post Classroom Library Organization Ideas for Elementary Teachers – 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

10 Tips for How to Set Up a Classroom Library

Below are 10 tips for setting up a classroom library.

1. Forego a Book Checkout System for Your Classroom Library

From my experience, I’ve found that having an elaborate classroom library book check-out system is not necessary. A few books may get lost or damaged over the course of the year. However, the time necessary to manage a check-out system doesn’t always prevent this from happening. Instead, establish expectations and procedures for respecting the books and using the library.

2. Spread Your Book Collection Around the Classroom

I’ve recently broken my library up and spread it around the classroom. This enables more children to browse comfortably. I have a section for my leveled picture books, a section for my chapter books (organized by series, genre and favorite authors), and a non-fiction section. In addition, I have a section for the text books and reference books (i.e. dictionaries and thesaurus). I love that my kids are “surrounded by literature.”

3. Explicitly Teach Students How to Take Out and Return Books

Plan lessons to teacher your students how to take out and return books.

4. Face Your Books Forward

Find a way to make your books face forward. Students are not likely to select them if the spines are showing. The covers are much more enticing.

5. Rotate Your Books on Display

The fifth on this list of tips for how to set up a classroom library is to rotate your books in a themed section of your library to increase interest and keep things fresh.

6. Create a System for Sorting and Labeling Your Books

Decide how you want to sort and label your books and plan how adding books in the future will affect that.

7. Use Uniform Containers

Using uniform baskets or bins creates an organized and cohesive look.

8. Create a Return Bin

Consider creating a “return bin” for students to put books into. Have a parent volunteer or responsible student librarian return them from there to their actual basket.

9. Set Rules and Guidelines for Using the Library

In my classroom, students are each assigned a day to access the classroom library and pick books for their bag. They may also request a conference with me to discuss what they’ve read and can pick books afterwards.

10. Close Access to the Classroom Library

Add the words, “The classroom library is CLOSED when I am absent to your substitute teacher plans.” Just trust me on this one!

In closing, I hope you found this post about how to set up a classroom library helpful! If you did, you may also be interested in my Clutter-Free Classroom teacher store as well as these posts:

• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Classroom
• Back to School No-Prep Activities for Teachers

The post How to Set Up a Classroom Library: 10 Tips for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is a Reading Nook?

A reading nook, also known as a reading corner, is a comfortable space in your classroom where students can read.

What is the Purpose of a Reading Nook?

The purpose of a reading nook is to give students a comfortable space to read in order to foster their love of reading. We want it to be a very positive experience for students.

What are Items I can Use to Create a Reading Nook?

Below are some items you can use to create a reading nook.

• Pillows
• Towels
• Blankets
• Sleeping bags
• Tents
• Forts
• Coolers
• Bean bag chairs
• Ottomans
• Couches
• Yoga mats
• Papasan chairs

10 Tips for Creating a Classroom Reading Nook

Below are 10 tips for creating a reading nook in your classroom.

1. Prioritize Safety

When it comes to offering alternate seating in the classroom, there are some guidelines to consider. I recently wrote a blog post about the problems associated with the flexible seating craze and included solutions for those problems so I encourage you to read that post in conjunction with this one. Safety is the most important factor to consider when planning and setting up your classroom reading nook. Make sure your reading nook follows all of your school’s fire codes and does not put any students at risk.

2. Define the Space

If you have the space, you will probably want to set up a permanent area for relaxing with a book. Just be aware of how many students can use the area at one time and decide if it is worth designating that much square footage to a space that the whole class will not benefit from regularly.

If you have the space and want to dedicate it to a cozy reading area, I suggest you start by putting down an area rug to define the space. If fire codes do not prevent you from doing such, I also recommend bringing in softer lighting by adding lamps to the area. Next, set up some furniture.

3. Limit Distractions

Make sure the reading nook is not too distracting. Remember the purpose is to get your students reading. Try not to make the reading nook too fun, so students are distracted, unfocused, and not productive.

4. Make the Space Comfortable

Students are not able to learn and be productive if they are physically uncomfortable, so try to make the space comfortable for your students.

5. Consider Making a Portable Version

If you do not have the ability to designate an entire corner of the classroom, you may want to consider making portable reading nooks. This will enable students to read in areas of the classroom instead of sitting at their desks.

Kids love to spread out and read on the floor. To make it seem slightly less icky (although truly no more comfy), teachers will sometimes have towels or blankets on hand. These can be washed which is always a bonus. Some teachers have each student bring in a towel from home to keep in their cubbies.

6. Utilize Outside the Box Seating

The same year I used a camping theme in my classroom, I brought coolers in from home. They were used for class meeting as seats. The kids also enjoyed sitting on them during reading time. They were great for storing things inside and I loved not having to store them in my house for the winter. Again, not my idea of comfort, but proves the fact that kids will find spots they enjoy reading in.

7. Involve Your Students in the Planning

Consider working as a class to brainstorm a list of possible “reading nooks.”

8. Create and Communicate Expectations

Provide the students with guidelines. Some examples are that students need to be seen, can’t disturb others, and can’t be on top of furniture.

Tents and forts are a kid-favorite, but you’ll want to gage your classroom climate to see if it works for you. My guidelines were that only one friend could be in it at one time and the flap needed to remain open. My teacher table was set up so that I could see inside.

9. Establish Management Systems

One idea is to create a “seating chart” or rotation schedule so that kids are not rushing to claim a specific spot.

10. Match Your Reading Nook to Your Classroom Theme

Pillows are a great way to make your reading nook feel like it’s part of your classroom. The pillowcases can be changed out to match your classroom theme or color scheme or to add a pop of color. They can be washed. Pillow also soften the space. They can be picked up and easily taken to a different area of the classroom for comfy reading.

When I did a camping theme in my third grade classroom, I included sleeping bags in the reading area. The kids would spread them out and read on top of them (not going in them was one of the rules) around the campfire.

In closing, I hope you found these classroom reading nook ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Flexible Seating Ideas for Teachers
• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• How to Create an Ideal Class Meeting Area for Whole Group Instruction

The post Classroom Reading Nook Ideas for Elementary Teachers – 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

8 Steps for How to Organize Your Classroom Library

Below are directions for how to organize your classroom library in 8 quick and easy steps.

1. Repair or Recycle Damaged Books

Do a quick scan of all the books in your leveled classroom library to see if there are any that should be tossed because of their damaged condition. Also identify which ones just need a quick repair and make the repairs.

2. Survey Your Class

Next, work with your class to weed out your current collection of books for the upcoming year. Invite students to offer lots of input about which books they were most interested in and why others were never selected. This will help you to also select new books to purchase when using Scholastic Bonus Points.

3. Level All of the Books

Level the remaining books using an online leveling site. You could have students help you with this during indoor recess.

4. Purchase Baskets

Now that you know how many books that you have, you can determine how many baskets you need and what size. Take measurements of the bookcases or shelving units that the baskets will go into to make sure they fit.

5. Sort the Books

Sort the books into the baskets you purchased.

6. Download the Free Printable Library Labels

Download the free printable library labels from my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store.

7. Print and Laminate the Free Printable Library Labels

Print the free printable library labels on card stock and laminate them to increase durability, so you won’t have to replace them year after year.

8. Stick the New Labels on the Baskets

Add the new labels to the baskets that you purchased.

3 Tips for Your Leveled Classroom Library

Below are simple tips for organizing your leveled classroom library.

1. Purposefully Choose the Location of Your Leveled Library

The books need to be easily accessed by you and your students during reader’s workshop and reading conferences. You may find that you want to keep them near your small group instruction area.

2. Refrain from Putting All of Your Books Out at Once

Consider rotating some of your books. Kids devour books that are brought in temporarily to go with a current topic of study or seasonal event.

3. Purchase White or Black Baskets

You may want to consider purchasing white, black, or neutral colored baskets so that they are versatile and can go with any classroom theme you decide to do in the future.

In closing, we hope you found these tips and ideas for how to organize your leveled classroom library for guided reading helpful. If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Create an Ideal Class Meeting Area for Read Alouds
• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Elementary Classroom

The post How to Organize Your Leveled Classroom Library for Guided Reading appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.