Creating a Dynamic Classroom Library

Setting up a dynamic classroom library is not an easy task but it is a rewarding one if done with a purpose. Student-accessible classroom libraries are an important part of any K through 12 classrooms. Since I started teaching, my classroom library has evolved from complete chaos to student/teacher-friendly organization.

Many believe that it is sufficient to have a few books on a shelf or to just use the school library. This is not the ideal situation. Students in all grades need to have interesting texts available to them at all times. If students do not have access to interesting texts that are organized in a visually appealing manner, they have no incentive to practice their reading skills.

Creating a Dynamic Classroom Library

I was inspired by a blog post I found one day while searching the internet many years ago. Finally, I found a great example to model my own classroom library after. I hope that this blog post can inspire others to renovate their own classroom libraries.

Classroom Library Organization

I keep all fiction books in red IKEA bins, and all my non-fiction books are kept in blue IKEA bins. This helps reinforce the differences between these two text types. Books that are too big or heavy to fit into bins get stored upright in metal dividers with the spine label out.

Every book has a sticker label reminder of where it is kept. Fiction books are sorted by genre (e.g. Fantasy, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, etc.), and non-fiction books are sorted by curriculum subject (e.g. Science, History, Geography, etc.).

Classroom Library Management

For years, I have tried different sign-in and sign-out systems. This year, I got rid of my sign-in and sign-out system and started to use the honour system. This works because I only allow my homeroom class to sign out fiction books.

Non-fiction stays in the classroom unless it is signed out on a nightly basis on the class whiteboard. My goal is to have a book pocket in the back of each novel and coordinate that with one book pocket sign-out chart per student. My classroom library is always under renovation.

What to Put in a Grade 7 and 8 Classroom Library

In short, everything! This can include:

• Fiction books at various below-grade, on-grade, and above-grade reading levels
• Non-fiction books that relate to the curriculum
• High-interest non-fiction books (e.g. spies, people, facts, etc.)
• Graphic novels
• Magazines and newspapers
• Luxury car brochures (Lexus, BMW, Audi, Jaguar) – I acquired these brochures one Saturday afternoon by driving to the car dealerships and “shopping” for a new car!
• Weekly flyers or advertising magazines – One year, I was shopping for a cellphone and brought the Best Buy comparison magazine into my classroom. It was the most popular text for months.
• Survey the students and ask them what they want to read. This could be repair manuals, newspapers, computer code, maps, etc.

Here are a few lists of books you can include in your classroom library. You can also sign up for my email list and get 32 middle school book lists sent straight to your inbox.

• Middle School Graphic Novels
• 8 Graphic Novels for Middle School Students
• Engaging Books for Struggling and Reluctant Readers
• 14 Fantastic Middle School Books By Canadian Authors

You can also take a look at my Middle School Book Recommendations which is constantly updated with book lists. If you’re a high school teacher, you can look at the High School Book Recommendations.

Where to Get Books for a Dynamic Classroom Library

It might feel difficult or sound expensive to create a classroom library, but it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of affordable options to stock your library. Before you buy anything new, inventory your current library collection to see what the students are reading and recycle any books that smell, are yellowing, or are in disrepair.

Here are some ways you can get books for your middle school classroom library:

• Order the $1.99 and $2.99 specials from Scholastic every month.
• Check our local library’s discard shelf – most books are under a dollar. Some libraries even have a yearly sale that can have plenty of great deals and a decent selection.
• Check our local dollar store, thrift store, or used bookstores. If your city has a free store, they might also have books. Garage sales are another great option.
• Visit your local bookstore and browse the children’s and teen fiction discount shelves. I have purchased many books from Chapters and Indigo for under $5 a book.
• Ask if your school has hosted a book fair. Many book fair companies have teacher-only discount sales. I purchased the bulk of my library through the semi-annual Scholastic Teacher Warehouse Sale.
• Ask your friends or family members if they have any books their kids do not read anymore.

You can also ask your school librarian and principal/administrator if they can help support your goal of a dynamic classroom library by purchasing new materials for your classroom. Some schools use credits from their Scholastic Book Fairs to help teachers create a classroom library.

My library is complete – now what? 

Once your dynamic classroom library is complete, make sure you use some engaging reading assignments. Here are a few your students will enjoy.

These 12 Genre Book Report Assignments will keep your students using the library frequently. Each genre book report assignment enables students to showcase their creativity while meeting curriculum standards. This assignment covers both fiction and non-fiction books. The assignment structure rotates every three months helping students achieve proficiency while still providing student choice.

Assignment types include:

1. Written Response – critical thinking and written reflection assignment.
2. Creative Choice Board – students are provided with 3 options and must select which creative option they want to produce.
3. Oral Presentation – a book talk format assignment.
4. Student-Created Lesson based on a non-fiction book
5. Traditional Literature vs. Fractured Fairy Tales Comparison Assignment

This resource contains:

• 12 Assignment Sheets (labelled by genre)
• Genre Book Lists
• Standards-Based Assessment Rubric
• Points-Based Assessment
• Individual PDFs for Google Classroom
• Google Slides Format for 1:1 technology schools

What teachers have said about this reading resource: 

“Love how the unit is broken down into lessons. Very helpful for a new teacher. Well laid out lessons’ students were engaged.” – Melanie J.

“This was such an easy to use resource. It was a great way to introduce students to a variety of genres and to get them reading. It allowed them to be creative while guiding them at the same time. Thanks!” – Julia P.

You can find the 12 Genre Book Report Assignments on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

More Engaging Reading Resources