Books! Glorious Books For a Classroom Library!

My Students

Books are not just for reading but for learning, exploring, contemplating, and so much more. I like to have a well-stocked classroom library of books on numerous subjects so students can thoroughly explore the curriculum and their world. Each year I like to add to my library and keep it growing.

This is my first year teaching first grade at Adamsville Elementary in Atlanta, but what I know so far is that my students are in a Title 1 school and have difficulty accessing the best resources and materials to help them learn, grow, succeed, and achieve.

I'm positive they are wonderful children though, and they deserve the best! My goal is to maintain a well-stocked library of books on all subjects and add to it regularly so that my students will never run out of books to read and will always have access to the curriculum through interesting books. I have chosen about a dozen books from each subject (such as Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) that teach subject matter through narratives, stories, and poems. We will use these books, such as,The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, How Come?: Every Kid's Science Questions Explained, in the classroom to read together and independently, develop activities, create learning centers, foster critical thinking, and encourage creativity, independence, and a love for reading and learning.

My Project

My plan is to create four separate libraries within the classroom, essentially a Math Center, Social Studies Center, Science Center, and Language Arts Center where students will not only have access to activities, technology, and independent learning, but will also have access to books specific to topics about which they are learning. I plan to regularly secure more and more books and continue adding to the libraries. As lessons are taught, the books themselves will be introduced as openers. Activities will be based on the books themselves. Students will learn concepts through the books and become immersed in a print-rich environment through being read-to, reading with others, and reading independently. This will occur whether students are learning language arts, math, social studies, or science. The goal is to use narratives, stories, and poems to enrich all lessons. The books will also be used for enrichment.

Each year, teachers struggle with how to get the necessary supplies for their classrooms.

As a first year first grade teacher, I know it will be difficult for me to build a great classroom library. Recently I spent about $200 on books I knew I wanted to have along with another large sum on workbooks and materials. While I will continue spending my own money on supplies as need arises, I'm hoping I can get some of the materials donated. These books will help the students tremendously!