Classroom libraries are important in the secondary classroom because they provide a space for students to interact with books. Once students enter middle school or high school, their exposure to books decreases unless the classroom teachers create an environment that promotes reading. Having access to books in the classroom has been shown to improve reading ability and increased academic achievement.
A classroom library with a variety of books can help students find something that interests them and encourages reading. When students see books everywhere, they are reminded that reading is important and fun. Creating a classroom library is a great way to encourage students to develop a love for reading. Classroom libraries can also help build a sense of community in the classroom.
Exposure to books promotes learning
A classroom library is a treasure trove of knowledge and opportunity. The library exposes students to a wide variety of books, which promotes learning in the secondary classroom. When students are exposed to different books, they are able to see the world from new perspectives and learn about different cultures and viewpoints.
A classroom library provides a quiet place for students to read and study. This is especially important for students who struggle with reading or who have difficulty concentrating in class. A classroom library is an essential resource for promoting learning in the secondary classroom.
When students have easy access to books, they are more likely to read for pleasure and develop a lifelong love of reading. This is important because research shows that students who read for pleasure are more likely to graduate from high school and college.
Increased Academic Success
Libraries are important in the classroom because they provide a space for students to engage with books and other reading materials. When students are engaged with books, they are more likely to read more, which leads to increased reading achievement and better comprehension. Better comprehension leads to higher levels of academic achievement.
In order to promote academic achievement, we must help students better comprehend what they read, it is essential that students be exposed to books in the secondary classroom. By doing so, we can ensure that our students develop a love of reading and achieve academic success.
Creating a Classroom Library
But how do we do this? Building a classroom library takes time and money. If you are a first year teacher (or a teacher that has changed subjects) give yourself some grace. You are not expected to have a complete library on day one – in fact, building a library is a constant work in progress!
If you are just starting out, here are a few things to keep in mind as you build your library:
Choose a Location
The first step in creating a classroom library is deciding where to put it. Many teachers choose to put their library in the back of the room, near the windows. This location is ideal because it is quiet and out of the way, but still easily accessible.
Stock your Library
Once you have decided on a location, it is time to stock your library with books! Be sure to choose a variety of genres and reading levels to appeal to all students. Some popular genres for middle and high school students include mystery, science fiction, romance, and biography. And don’t forget to include graphic novels, audiobooks, and magazines, remember the goal is to get students reading!
Check out this blog post for ideas on how economically add books to your classroom library.
Display your Books
Once you have filled your library (or at least got it started), it is time to display the books! There are many ways to do this, but one popular method is to create book displays around the room. You can theme your displays by genre, author, or reading level. If you are low on space, display your books on top of the bookshelves using picture frame holders.
Talk about Books
Finally, be sure to encourage students to read by talking about books. Share what you are reading, show them the new books you added to the library, or simply share favorite passages with your class. Don’t forget to ask students what they are reading. They have a plethora of knowledge about the books they love, use that information and help students encourage peers to read!
Let students know that they can borrow books from the library anytime they want!
Getting your classroom library started can be expensive and time consuming. Read this blog post for ideas on how to add books to your library.
A classroom library takes time. If you’re a first year teacher, or a teacher changing grades, it’s ok to start slow – You aren’t expected to have all your books in order right off the bat! It could even be several years before filling up what some would call an adequate collection for young readers but I think we can agree that our libraries are always a work in progress!
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