Sunday, July 7, 2013

Smorgasbord Sunday Link-Up & 100 Follower Giveaway!

This Sunday, I'm linking up with Michelle from Fabulous in First for her Sunday Smorgasbord Linky party. Don't you just love this graphic?

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Random thoughts? I always have those. 

Random Thought #1: First, I start summer school tomorrow, and this time around I'm working with itty bitty ELL kindergarteners, which is definitely out of my comfort zone. I work with big, bad middle schoolers, so hand holding is not something that I consider a strong suit. I worked with second graders last summer and loved it, so I'm hoping this year will be more of the same. I have the benefit of working with an absolutely fantastic summer staff full of eager teachers.

Random Thought #2: How am I going to organize my classroom library this year? Last year was my first year at my school and I moved into a classroom with zero books. Yep, zilch. I spent most of the year just getting books together and that was enough of a headache. Moving into a classroom with literally nothing was very stressful. I'm hoping I don't have to switch classrooms this year.

I've seen a lot of very cool classroom libraries out there.


Nevertheless, these are all elementary libraries. I want to sort by genre, and I know my labels won't have any (overly) cutesy clipart...but I just think that there is something about an organized library that makes kids want to go and pick up a book! Suggestions? Hints? I'd love them. I need to go get bins as well.

Random Thought #3: Erin's giveaway is just too awesome! As a way to say thank you to all of my new followers I'm giving away a "You Pick Three" (like Panera...yum) deal at my store. Any three items can be yours. Enter below! 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a great Sunday! 

7 comments :

  1. I use Booksource's Classroom Organizer app to help organize my classroom library and it also allows my kids to check out and return books. You just scan in the ISBN and it adds it to your database. I organize by genres too. A couple of years ago, I went to Dollar General and bought all their clear plastic shoebox bins. They weren't too expensive. You won't need the lids to them but I keep the lids for the bins to sit on and it adds some color to the shelf. The kids can take the entire bin with them to browse for books. They're the perfect size for novels. I use crates for larger nonfiction books.

    Mandi
    Life With Middle Schoolers

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    1. I went to The Dollar Tree today and found awesome bins for a dollar each. I bought 25 of them...should be enough to get me started! Hopefully! :) I'm working on labels now.

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  2. Hi! I'm your newest follower and I found you through the Sunday linking party. I just moved classrooms this year but I went from a classroom that had nothing...to a classroom that has too much stuff! I had already bought so much, so I left some of my stuff and took some stuff from my new class and left it for the new teacher. I just felt too bad leaving her with nothing, and I could part with some of my stuff :).

    I sort by genre as well but this year, I'm going to try to sort some by reading level. I'm also going to use the booksource app to let students check out.

    Stephanie
    The Learning Chambers

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  3. I moved into a classroom with very little books as well ..but I have been just gathering my own library over the years.

    I sort some by reading level and others by genre/topic and then I log them all into the computer or ipad at this website http://classroom.booksource.com/
    and students can check books in and out! I love it!

    Emily
    Style Closet to Classroom

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  4. I use Booksource's Classroom Organizer for the students to check out books. I have my classroom library arranged by AR levels.

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