Many teachers have their classrooms completely set up when students arrive on the first day of school but it can be helpful to leave the classroom library unfinished until after the students are there to help. Students can decide together how the books should be sorted and categorized. For example, they may choose to sort them by genre, by topic or by author. Teachers can provide large baskets for the students to place the sorted books into and label them with the categories that were chosen. When students are involved in its organization, they will take more responsibility for the library and will also be able to locate the books they would like to read more easily. Teachers can use this activity as an opportunity for team-building as students learn to cooperate and make decisions together.
The classroom library is often thought of as a place for students to choose books to read independently but it can also become a place where students engage in conversations about books. Teachers can set up book discussion groups, assigning students roles within the group, such as someone to lead the discussion and others to ask questions. Teachers can choose to have students in the book group read the same title or have them each read different books on the same topic or with a similar theme. Depending on the level of the students, teachers can give them open-ended prompts to help guide the discussion or have students create their own conversation starters.
As students read books from the classroom library during their independent reading time, they may want to share their opinions of a book with a fellow classmate who is interested in the same topic or who enjoys the same author. The library can become a place where students post reviews or recommendations of the books they have read. Teachers can set up a time each week for students to share their reviews with the class and explain why they liked or disliked a book. Students could add their favorite books to a list of recommended books that is posted in the library. Each of these activities encourages students to think about what they are reading and interact with their peers about books.
Classroom libraries are, of course, a place for books to be stored within the classroom but they should also be warm, inviting spaces that make children want to curl up and read their books. Teachers can place large, comfortable rugs on the floor and put cozy pillows, beanbags or chairs around the library, providing students with pleasant spots to engage in reading. It is important for students to be given time to read self-chosen books independently every day and teachers can use this time to talk one-on-one with students about their reading and assess their levels of comprehension and reading abilities.