Home Is Where My Story Begins

My Classroom Library

Teachers have lots of books. We have curriculum and instruction books, idea books, age appropriate kid books, books which are not age appropriate but we can’t possibly get rid of (what if we move grade levels), and books that we just plain love. (How’d ya like that for a run on sentence?)

Here’s the problem. Say I want to do a lesson on creating mental images using poetry with my kindergarteners. As I said, teachers have a lot of books. It could possibly take my whole 30 minute planning period to find that book. Three years ago I moved to a new school and a new grade level. Kindergarten became my new home. For the last three years I’ve been learning to organize like a kindergarten teacher. Now, I can find most books in about 10 seconds.




The books the kids access every day are in little labeled bins. Each book has a sticker that matches the labels on the bin. That way my sweet little five year old know how to put their own materials away.

Here are my “teacher books”, organized by curriculum topic.

Those little black magazine file boxes are how I can keep so many books organized by author, genre, theme, or month of use. It was such an easy storage idea, that I kept going.


I love to have the books in my classroom organized. I wish I had the space to organize the books in my house this way!

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The Comments

  • Mary
    May 5, 2010

    Using the tags is an excellent way! I finally organized my games by months and then put them in containers.

  • Splurgie
    May 5, 2010

    How would you like a job in my library?

  • Leanne
    May 5, 2010

    Oh my gosh, Becca! You're on an organizing whirlwind. Please link up all your great ideas next We're Organized Wednesday on May 12th. I know everyone would love to see all your great ideas. You Rock!

  • Stacey
    May 5, 2010

    Oh yay! Another teacher! I'm so glad to find you!

  • Kristi
    May 6, 2010

    I love the way you have organized all the books!! How smart! And I loved your fabric, game and daughters room as well!!! Great job! 🙂

  • Natasha
    May 9, 2010

    This is fabulous! You are so clever and of course, organized! Thanks for the great tips!

    I must remember your linky party next week too!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

  • Kim
    March 24, 2012

    Oooohhhhh. I love those little tags.
    They just pull it all together!

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

  • Amy Rider
    March 30, 2012

    Thanks for linking up!!!! I am loving looking through all of the amazing libraries for ideas. : ) Amy