My Class Library for the beginning of the year - and why I don't level my books

I have been in my classroom rearranging and reorganizing my class library for the upcoming school year.  My class library is the center of my teaching and our life in second grade.  How I arrange and present the books is crucial to a successful reading workshop.  So, each August (and at various times of the year)  I tweak it a bit.  My collection of books continues to grow, which is a good thing, but also presents the challenge of storage and book shelf space!  My fiction section is primarily sorted by series.  I have found this the best way to hook my young readers.  The familiarity with characters and setting helps them build stamina and fluency.

In the past each series had it's own basket, with a label and collection of books.  Since I am running out of room on my shelves I decided to combine several series in one basket.  I tried very hard to choose series that would "go together" - they were a similar reading level and similar interest.  For instance, I put the Biscuit  and Tiny the Dog series in the same basket.  Andy Shane and Little Bill books are displayed together as well.

My Thoughts on Leveling Books

There seems to be a lot of opinions out there on leveling books - so I thought I would add my 2 cents.  Here's what I think.  It disturbs me to see public librarians and school librarians being asked to put together lists of books according to reading levels such as Fountas and Pinnell or Lexile.  And now it seems publishers are getting in on the leveling craze and using it as a marketing tool.  What adult would go to a book store or library and select books based on a reading level?  And children are no different.  If we want our children to become readers we need to help them find books they will enjoy reading.  I'm afraid this leveling craze is due to parents requesting a list of books that are on their child's reading level.  So, how did they get so wrapped up in their child's guided reading level?  Us.  Their child's teachers.  So many of my colleagues report the reading level to parents at conferences, and some school districts require that it be on the report card.  I think this is a big mistake.  Guided reading levels are meant to be used as a teaching tool - one piece of the assessment puzzle we use in teaching reading.

Please don't get me wrong - I use Fountas and Pinnell guided reading levels as part of my assessment.  And book levels can be helpful when selecting books for my class library and helping students select books to read.  But I don't label books with levels and I certainly don't label students with a level!   I have also found that my students' reading levels are not hard and true - depending on their interest and background knowledge I have found individual students often fall into a range of reading levels.   And more than once a student has proven me wrong and was able to read a book that I thought was too challenging, but the student wanted to read it bad enough they did!  But what is more important for us as teachers, is understanding the characteristics of the different levels of books and knowing what readers will have to know how to do to successful read and understand a particular level of book. Once a teacher understands this, you can look at most books and know if it is a good fit for your reader.  What is most important for young readers is that we teach them how to find books they can read independently and will enjoy.  And that is part of the art of teaching reading!

Be sure to read Pernille Ripp's  and Professor Nana's posts regarding the recent craze on leveling books!


Favorite Series for Second Grade

 I also have collections of reading series such as Scholastic Readers, Hello Readers and I Can Read Series.  My students often have a hard time re-shelving these books and they end up in the wrong basket.  So this year I decided to color code the collections.  For example, the Scholastic Reader books will get a red sticker so students will know which basket to return the book.







Here's what my class library looks like in the beginning of the year.  I have mostly transitional, early fiction series out.  Longer chapter books will be available later as my students get better at selecting books.  I have a few baskets of non-fiction out as well, including animal books, plant books and some easy biography.  I curtain off parts of the library because my second graders get overwhelmed if I put out too much too soon.  The red, blue, green and yellow baskets are my students' "book baskets"- where they keep all of their independent reading materials and reading folder.  I also like to put out familiar books from first grade - like song books, ABC books, Eric Carle and Mo Willems.  This year I also put out my Peter Brown books since he visited our school last year.

Under the curtain

Non-Fiction Shelves

What does your class library look like?  Do you level your books?

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Thanks to Jen at TeachMentorText  and Kellee at UnleashingReaders for the weekly meme highlighting children's literature - picture books to young adult.  Don't forget to visit her site so you can see what everyone else is reading this week!

The book images are linked to Goodreads, so you can get a complete summary and easily add it to your books to read list!

This week I have focused on a few books that fall into the transitional, early reader category.  In my library and many bookstores they are often referred to as Easy readers, but please don't use that term with my second graders!  I have made the mistake of labeling a basket of books in my class with the term "Easy Readers", only to find that students avoided that basket like the plague!  So, now we call them beginning chapter books - that's more enticing!  I am always looking for more series books that fall into this category.

TRANSITIONAL BEGINNER CHAPTER BOOKS

Joe and Sparky, Superstars! by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

This is a great little series that currently includes 3 books.  Joe and Sparky are a perfect partnership for adventure, fun and silliness.  Joe, is the more adventurous of the two, while Sparky, is the more careful and safety minded turtle.  In this book Joe helps Sparky find his special talent.  I particularly liked the chapter titled, 'The Dance Lesson' where Joe tries to teach Sparky the Hokey Pokey.  I think my students will laugh at the story, but also be able to dig a little deeper and relate to the themes of friendship and being yourself.

Bink & Gollie, Best Friends Forever by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile

This is the third book in this wonderful series about 2 friends and their adventures.  The books are perfect early readers because each chapter is a separate story.  There is some (just a few) advanced vocabulary that beginning readers may struggle with - so be aware if students are reading independently.  You may need to highlight the words ahead of time.  The books are smart and clever - and so are the characters - something that I enjoy seeing in a transitional early chapter book.  And I love that they roller skate where ever they go!

Boris on the Move by Andrew Joyner

Boris, the little warthog, and his family live in a camper that his parents formally used to tour the world.  Boris yearns to have his own adventures beyond his little yard.  One day his parents decide to drive the van to a new adventure.  Boris is excited at first, but soon finds himself lost.  Boris learns that he doesn't have to go far from home to have an adventure.  Young readers will be able to relate to little Boris and his troubles.  The book includes an introduction, 7 short chapters and a section at the end to show readers how to make a compass.  The book has a graphic novel feel to it, with lots of speech bubbles and short text to accompany each illustration.

This new series published by Scholastic is part of a new line of books called Branches, books for independent readers that aren't quite ready for traditional chapter books.  I definitely think there is a gap between transitional early chapter books and longer chapter books like Magic Tree House books for my second grade readers.  I hope that the Branches line of books will be able to fill this gap.  I plan to read more of them before I give them my stamp of approval.


FANTASY SERIES - LONGER CHAPTER BOOK

My Haunted House (Araminta Spookie #1) by Angie Sage and illustrated by Jimmie Pickering

 I was not sure if I was going to like the book during the first chapter or two - but I soon got into the story and quickly finished the entire novel in an evening.  Araminta lives with her aunt and uncle in a huge, old haunted house.  She has always wanted to  meet a ghost, and finally gets the chance when her Aunt Tabby decides to sell the house.  Araminta devises several plans to try to derail the sale of the house.  The story has a cute ending too.  This is a great fantasy for more advanced elementary readers.  It is advertised for grades 3- 5, but I think second grade readers that have lots of experience with longer chapter books will also enjoy the book.  Fans of Franny K. Stein will love Araminta - she loves spiders, ghosts and bats.  It is the first book in a series, but it stands alone and has no cliffhanger.




CHAPTER BOOK READ ALOUD

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg and illustrated by Matthew Cordell

I have had this books on my list for awhile, and finally found it at my library. What a heartwarming book!  Eleanor learns that her babysitter will be moving away and she is so unhappy.  Julie Sternberg does such a wonderful job telling the story of how Eleanor mourns the loss of her beloved babysitter and comes to terms with this big life change.  A very realistic growing up story that I know my second graders will relate to.  I plan on either adding this book to my read aloud list or including it as a book club/guided reading selection for my more advanced readers.  I can also imagine writing about other events that could be like "pickle juice on a cookie".  Great read aloud for Grades 2 - 4.  Independent readers grade 2 - 5 will enjoy also.  It's a shorter chapter book, barely over 100 pages.

What are you reading this week?  Do you have any transitional early chapter books that you could recommend?

What are you reading?

Here's what I have been reading this past week.

Ellray Jakes Walks the Plank by Sally Warner.

Ellray is a smart, but sometimes forgetful third grader who often finds himself in trouble, or as he would say, "messing up". The book begins during Ellray's spring vacation and he has volunteered to take home the class goldfish, only to have it die on his watch. This leads to a series of events as Ellray has to learn real life lessons about his reputation. I think Ellray is a very realistic character that 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade boys will really like. Ellray's personality really comes through since he is the narrator. It is humorous, yet touching at times - but not too mushy for its intended audience. I love the relationship he has with his younger 4 year old sister. At this point in the year most of my second graders would have a difficult time reading the book independently, but I still plan on adding a few of the Ellray Jakes books to my classroom library for when they are ready. I would love to find a early transitional series with a character like Ellray!



Marty McGuire Digs Worms by Kate Messner

This is the second Marty McGuire book. Kate Messner has created a wonderful female character who does not fit the typical stereotypical third grade girl mold. Marty does not like dolls or dresses and is comfortable in her own unique skin. Hurray! In this story all the children in Marty's class are asked to participate in an environmental awareness contest in which they create a project. With Marty's grandma's help she builds a worm composting box. I thought that the book had just the right mix of science and drama, as Marty impatiently waits for the worms to do their job she over feeds them and has to deal with a pile of escaped worms. I am planning on reading this book to my class as a read aloud. I consider the book an early chapter book and too difficult for most second graders at this time, although I do have one reader in my class reading the first Marty McGuire book. I have often considered having a worm box in my class... we will see.



Pearl and Wagner, One Funny Day by Kate McMullen

In my never ending search for quality, high interest transitional chapter books with interesting characters I think I found one in this book. I am often turned off by animals with clothes talking and acting like humans, but as a second grade teacher I sometimes have to get over that! I mean, why can't the characters just be human kids?  I would prefer the characters look and act like diverse children, instead of a variety of animals. In this book Wagner, a mouse is not enjoying the April Fools Day, while his friend Pearl, the rabbit is having a great day. In the end, Wagner plays an April Fools joke on his classmates. The story is more about bouncing back after a hard day or difficulty - it is definitely not about playing jokes on classmates. I plan on checking out more Pearl and Wagner books in the future. I hope I find a series worthy of adding to my classroom library.