SCAAC-N: Mayer-Johnson Messenger

IN THE CLASSROOM

Setting Up A Library…In The Classroom

Reading is a skill that requires a lot of practice, and as they say, practice makes perfect. What better way to help your students practice reading than having a library in your classroom! However, deciding to set-up a library in your classroom can seem like an overwhelming task. Below are some helpful tips to make the process a little easier!

The first task you must complete when setting up your library is to assess your needs. What is your library's purpose? Who will be using the library? How large does the library need to be? By taking all of this into consideration, you will be able to create a well rounded library that appeals to many different students. Take advantage of the endless number of free resources on the internet. View large book retailer's websites and see how they have their children's section organized. Also, don't forget that your most valuable resource is just down the hall from you - your school librarian!

The next step in setting up your library is probably the most important - getting books to fill the library! One way is to ask for donations. Ask your family members, students and colleagues to donate to your library. A fun way to kick off the donations is to make an event out of it! You can have a special recognition ceremony for students and their parents who donated. Other ways to obtain books include going to yard sales, thrift stores and library book sales. Also, book clubs, such as Scholastic, offer bonus points and free book incentives for orders placed by your students.


	Check out how this 3rd grade teacher in Pennsylvania recycled an old bath tub and turned it into the Reading Tub!

Once your library is initially set up (and just when you thought all the hard work was done), you now have to sustain it! Keep it fresh and exciting! Your library will evolve every time a new book is added and the appearance will constantly change. You also want your library to be inviting to your students so they want to keep coming back to it. Even though this is your library, it is also your students' library and let them take pride in it.

Setting up and maintaining your library can be exhausting, but think how much value it will add to your classroom. Also, have fun with it! There is no right or wrong way to manage your library. Go with what works best for you and your students!

PARENTS NETWORK

Have you ever opened your child's pencil box to find pens, markers, (you name it) chewed like crazy? Or, maybe you've noticed that your son or daughter has been coming home with bite marks in the top of their t-shirt? Many children have chewing tendencies and need an alternative (and more appropriate) outlet to satisfy their chewing needs.

Chewable alternatives, like chewable jewelry, have recently become all of the rage among parent-bloggers and specialists in the industry. We've kept our eye out for products like these and we're happy to report that we've found a pretty cool product that will definitely make a difference.

Chewelry is fashionable, non-toxic, plastic chewable jewelry that is designed to keep students from chewing on their pens and clothes. It looks just like a necklace and has a lanyard with a breakaway clasp that will release and can be re-attached with ease. Plus, it comes in all different shapes (hearts and circles) and colors (pink, blue, green and yellow) so even boys will think it's cool!

Like most chewable alternatives, chewelry should be used under adult supervision. We recommend trying it out at home before incorporating it into your child's classroom routine. Have your child wear it while doing homework or during a movie and see how they like it.


	Kid Companions Chewelry - Yellow Heart with 20" Yellow Lanyard

Who knows, they might not like having their shirt all chewed up (or the taste of red marker in their mouth) so they may love these stylish tools!

And, because we know how important your child is to you, we made sure that Chewelry is safe, bpa-, pvc-, lead- and latex-free. Plus, it's washable so you don't have to worry about pesky germs as your child's chewelry goes in and out of their mouth. So go ahead, help your child break their chewing habit, one bite at a time!

TIPS & TUTORIALS

Recorded Online Training

FREE RESOURCES

Circle Time Support

This will provide support for all students in the classroom. Put the pages into a binder and as you go through your routine, use the pages to support visual learners, non-verbal learners and beginning reading learners.
LEARN MORE