My husband and I were just talking about this today--organizing both classroom libraries and school libraries. We work with struggling or striving readers and the bottom line in my own belief system is this. Dictionaries are wonderful tools for folks with a strong sense of approximation, but not much help to a struggling speller--think about those kids that perplex spell check! Traditionally organized libraries are so wonderful for readers who know what they want, where to find it and are motivated to look. For the strugglers, it is like a needle in a haystack. I am convinced we need to stop thinking of public and institutional libraries as mentors for organization and start thinking like Barnes and Nobles. Here is what they know: Books featured cover out attract readers and buyers. Books in high traffic areas stop traffic and attract readers and buyers.
Lori On 6/24/08 9:34 PM, "Ashli and Paul Andersen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You guys are way too organized! I'm lucky if I get the students to remember > to put the books back on the shelf! Every year, I try to get the students > in the habit of getting them to the shelf and placed properly (with the > spine out and not just thrown in there). I've thought of organizing them by > genre, but I don't think I would keep up with the organization. I envy > those of you who can keep it organized like that! > > I take all the books I can get for free or what ever I can get for as close > to free as possible. I have a bunch of fiction and usually end up paying > for the non fiction. I know that genre dominates the rest. > > I'm also interested to see how this conversation goes. > Ashli > > > > On 6/24/08, McGivern, Liz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> Hello everyone; >> >> I am a long-time lurker finally getting the courage to post! :) I've >> enjoyed reading posts and learning from all of you; I am a former high >> school English teacher who started teaching 8th grade 2 years ago, and I can >> use all the help I can get. This is a whole different ball game, but I'm >> loving every minute of it. >> >> I am a Language Arts teacher, and one of my goals over the summer is to >> organize & beef up my classroom novels. I organize them into genres right >> now. Each genre occupies a plastic bin in the class, and the books have a >> dot that tells to which bin they are to be returned. As you can see, my >> library is a bit lopsided! >> >> Short Story 3% >> Adventure 4% >> Historical Fiction 6% >> Sports 8% >> Mystery 8% >> Nonfiction/autobiography13% >> SciFi 17% >> Teen Issues 43% >> >> Does anyone have any suggestions for authors in my "sparse" genres that >> would appeal to my 8th graders? Or any organizational tips for me -- should >> I further divide the "Teen Issues" genre? I know it's not really a genre, so >> it's hard for me, as a true English major, to justify it :) >> >> Any suggestions are welcome -- I have tough skin, so fire away. >> >> Thanks in advance to those who are more creative and more experienced than >> I!! >> >> Ms. Liz McGivern >> 8th grade Language Arts >> Hudson Memorial School >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org >> >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. >> >> Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive >> > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute July 17-20. 2008 Tucson, Arizona _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
