How do you level your classroom library?

I blogged over at The Primary Pack a few days ago but wanted to share the same post with you friends!

Over the years, I've organized my library by genres, then by Accelerated Reading (AR) level, then AR level within genres and then nothing at all!  Oh my!  I loved it because it was so organized and made this semi-perfectionist heart smile.  But with moving schools, classrooms, and states, my little library had to be sold and I started fresh.

With the new school year, I organized my books by genres.  I even made cute genre labels to stick on my cute little baskets.  My little heart began to smile again.  But I kept finding books that were NOT in the right spot.  Please tell me I'm not the only one this happens to!

Am I shocked, not at all!  They're kids, it happens.  Plus, sometimes, I don't know if the book should go in the realistic fiction basket or the funny stories one.  If I struggle as an adult finding the best place, I'm sure my kids do too.

With lexiles being everywhere with Common Core, I decided to level my library by lexile levels.  Sure, it may limit some of my kiddos, but I know they will be reading books at their level.  And as you know, groups and levels are flexible so my little guys won't stay put for long.

• I'll monitor their progress in reading groups
• I'll check their AR quizzes each week to make sure that they are at their independent reading level
• I'll use Enterprise Reading (same company as AR)

It's time to get organized so here's what you need to do to level your library as well!

Snag this lexile level list and add some stickers to it so you can color code your books. I printed mine on fun scrapbook paper.  If I were to do it again, I'd make sure I had enough of those round Avery stickers from Staples or these ones!  Don't make the mistake of getting the clear colored labels like I did because they didn't show up well on the books.  Choose a color for each level.  I thought about using cute washi tape but I don't want to risk the pattern not being around in a couple of years so I stuck to stickers.

If you have parent help, take advantage because this is a big task that took a few weeks.  I took each basket from my library and scanned the bar code on the books using Scholastic Book Wizard {free} mobile as well as the Level It {3.99} mobile app.  I'd start with the Scholastic app and go through your books.  If there isn't a level, place them in a pile and save them for the Level It app, to save time.

 After it gave me the level, I'd add a sticker that matched the level and placed it on front of the book.  Be warned, the apps won't have the levels for some of the books so place the books in a pile and save them for later.

So now about those books that you couldn't find a level for with either app.  You can try to input it manually or try and do a search on the Scholastic website.  I told you it would take some time!!!

Once all my books were back in the library, I noticed that I needed more lower-level books.  So...I used my Scholastic points and ordered books by lexile level.  That way, I KNEW I was getting the books we needed AND I also knew they had a lexile level.

I made library level cards to place on the baskets, added the sticker that matched the lexile list, and laminated them.  I placed the books inside and that was that!  Why didn't I color code sooner, it has made putting books back so much easier?

I also leveled our book boxes that stay at each table.  I rotate the boxes from table-to-table each week.

Now that your books are in the right spot, it's time to get the kiddos in on the action.  Once our new books arrived, I laid them out during independent reading time and let the kiddos choose books they wanted to read.  It really built excitement about reading!!!  They were beyond excited about all of the new books and couldn't wait to check out our new library the following day.

Our school had extra school ID cards so I placed the sticker of the each child's level on the back of the sticker.  That way, it's private for my little friends.  As my friends become better readers, I'll just add a new sticker next to it to show their progress.

I thought about giving each kiddo their card to keep in a safe place, but decided to keep all of the cards in a plain ol' pencil box that stays in the library.  I included individual student cards in this pack in case you don't have any just laying around.

We've been using this new system and the kiddos are so happy.  I feel like I'm giving them more of a chance to read appropriate books and can't wait to see their progress!  The parents are also happy because they know their child's reading level with the parent letter that I sent home.  As students move through levels, I'll be sure to keep families updated!

I hope this post and resource will help you as you level your library.  I can't wait to hear how it goes.  Want to win a copy?  Share this post and leave the link in the comments section with your e mail.  I'll choose 2 winners on Friday!