Classroom Library Check-Out System

Although I do not teach Reading, I feel it is my duty as an ELA teacher to offer a classroom library to my students! Yes we have a school library, and yes my Reading teacher takes them to the library every two weeks. However I have found that if they see books every single day, they are more likely to want to grab a book and read it. I've done my library several different ways and I have had many different check-out procedures.

Last year I had yet to print out my checkout page and clip it to my clipboard. In a rush, I just told a student to write the book title on a post it and their name and stick it to the clipboard. Since I love all things post-it, my new procedure was born. By March, my kids were professional book renters. They knew to grab a post-it, include all the necessary information and stick it to the board. 

I liked the post-it method partly because I am partial to post-its, but it was also easy to look to my left and see who had what book out. As July comes halting to close I have been visualizing my classroom. Mulling over changes I want to make and decor I want to revamp. While strolling Hobby Lobby today I decided exactly how I wanted my check-out system to work this year. 

I am going to use my post-it method yet again, but with a slight change! I discovered a memory frame at Hobby Lobby. Decoupaged some chip board letters and Walah! I have mini clothes pins and plenty of post-its for my students to post their books!

Pictured above are all the materials that I used to make my book check-out center! Stay tuned for where it's new home will be inside Room 123!

Step One in the Writing Process: Identify your purpose!

The sweet July days are fleeting! Just a few short weeks and I will be back in my happy place with 130 new little faces! 130 new minds to challenge and characters to shape! I am eager for this new school year!

I have spent a good portion of my summer attending professional development workshops and my mind is exploding with amazing tools to share with my kiddos!

A goal this year is to incorporate more social media and technology into my classroom, and for a few reasons.

First, our world is overflowing with negativity. Our youth are spending hours scrolling through Instagram idolizing celebrities, bullying peers, or just simply wasting time. I feel like it is my duty to teach my students how to post positively and how to have a positive impact through social media. 

Reality: more and more companies are googling employee candidates, searching them on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram. So, I am hoping to give my students the opportunities to create a positive digital footprint in the social media realm! 

I am also hoping to use social media as a means to connect with my parents and students! 

Texas is moving into a new era, the T-TESS era. 

I am hoping to add instructional strategies and differentiation strategies and just FUN and AWESOME things that my kiddos are doing throughout the year!