 ,Just a quick tip today. I have been working to increase the books in my classroom library recently and have been lucky to receive a small literacy grant from our school's local Rotary Club. I'm at a new school and inherited a lot of older books in my library, bur I've been working to bring in new titles along with the books I brought with me. The collection is starting to make the library shelves in my room more and more interesting. However, I wanted to highlight books and make it look more inviting that simply the spines of the books that typically crowd my shelves. Also, since I do have some space on my shelves, my new strategy hides the space by making the area look more vibrant and exciting. Win-win. This tip may be rather obvious to others, but it was a revelation to me. Librarians have always known that the front of the book, not its spine, is best for catching potential readers' eyes. Which is why I've given up some real estate to displays, because books are better when they're noticed and read. We've been lucky to have all these books, but what good do they do if they kids don't know what's there?
My last new addition to my library is the other recommendation tags. I created a template that you can use. It's a simple document that allows you to write a sentence or two to entice your readers to pick up something new. I print them on bright paper to catch their eyes and hang them off the edge of the shelves. Hope you enjoy! Ali 
Alexandra StewartAli is a career-changer who came to education in 2013 through Teach for America. She is currently a middle school English teacher in rural New Hampshire after spending her first six years teaching in Boston Public Schools teaching middle and high school English, ESL, and Special Education.
2 Comments
5/19/2019 03:13:18 am
The classroom is a place for learning, not for idle chit chat. As a teacher, I try to make the classroom as civil as possible. I do not know why, but many of my students do not value education that much. They are not even happy that they have the opportunity that others do not get. I know a lot of children who would kill just to be able to attend my class. The classroom is a sacred place and it should never be tainted.
Ali at New Teachers Retreat
5/20/2019 09:07:46 am
Thanks for the comment. Yes, teaching can absolutely be a perplexing and frustrating experience, but we at NTR also know how rewarding it can be when we have the tools and resources we need to reach those challenging students. The New Teachers Retreat provides a space to unpack that complexity, with others who share your struggles and mentors who have helpful insights to help you deal with them. Thanks again for checking out our site, and we encourage you to consider attending the Retreat! Leave a Reply. |
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