Management Monday: Take-Home Reading Folders

I want to share with you how I organize my take-home reading folders.  I've heard teachers who feel overwhelmed with the thought of managing this without parent volunteers. I'm here to tell you...it is possible and it can run smoothly without taking a lot of extra time!

1. Buy books
I bought a lot of my books when Scholastic did their 50 books for $50 (they do it a few times a year) in their teacher-store (different than their book clubs). They separate them by grade-level too, so I bought a few variety of those boxes over the years. If you're purchasing from Scholastic's Teacher Store, you can search by LEVEL! If you need more level "G", you can use the search feature and filter only letter "G".  I also buy books from their Book Clubs with my bonus points. I recommend thrift stores and garage sales, as well.

2. Level and label:
We use guided reading levels at my school. This leveled library works double duty. I use it for my take-home library AND for my student library. They pick their books for Daily 5 from here.

Favorite Leveling Apps:

3. Manilla Folder and Cover Page
Glue the cover page on the folder and laminate with the flap OPEN. Cut around the folder, but make sure to leave a slight edge to keep the lamination from pulling apart on the edges.  Use an razor blade cut open the envelope and attach adhesive velcro to the flap and the envelope! I find these folders hold up really well, especially if you follow my directions. If they do tear, just add some book tape to the bottom. I only had to do that with one folder last year. This pack below is a pack of 100.

4. Take Home Reading Log {for parents}
When you send home reading books with your students, send home their independent level- which is a level below what I work with them at school. This helps so the students do not get frustrated reading at home. Inside of their folder is a log for the parent to quickly fill out as they read with their child. This just lets me know the child has read their books. I ask the students to keep the books for at least 2 days to practice comprehension and fluency.

5. Take Home Reading Log for Teacher

When I switch out books (or you can have a parent volunteer do it), I write down which books I give them so I don't give that book to them again and so I can keep track in case they lose their books. 

My students and parents LOVE that I send home take-home reading books. It doesn't take but 5-10 minutes a day to switch out books. If you have a parent volunteer, that's even better!
In this pack, I explain EVERYTHING you need to know about how to set up a take-home reading system in your classroom! PLUS all the forms you see here AND MORE are included.

This pack gives you everything you need to learn how to set up a take-home reading system in your class!  Just add books!

Included in this pack:

• Folder Front Covers (5 options and customizable)
• Reading at Home Folder Back Cover Letter (4 options)
• Parent Reading Log Form
• Teacher Reading Log Form
• We Need Your Books Back (letter)
• Pictures of folders and examples
• Tips and Tricks
• How to Build up Take-Home Library

Take-Home Reading Libary

You might have seen my pile of books on our Instagram.  I just bought some more books for my take-home reading books library.  These books were $50 for 50 from Scholastic (they do this promotion every few months and sometimes they have 25 books for $25 when you order from Book Orders)!  That is such a great deal!  The books are perfect for my take-home reading library (they come in grade-level variations).  I bought two Kinder-2nd boxes and one grade 3-4 box.  I've also purchased books from the local thrift store and yard sales! A book is a book, people!

And then I stick them all with a label of my name on the inside and an apple on the outside.  I'll write the level on the apple. 

Ahhh... leveling.... good times. NOT.  Many of the books are leveled on Book Wizard, but some are not.  When they are not leveled on there, I must level them myself.  This takes practice (and trial and error), but I just get a book from each level out of my library and I compare it with the book I'm leveling. Clear as mud?  So back to Book Wizard... search the book (they have an App, but it sucks- plain and simple! So use the online version) and PRAY that it's in the system. This is something a parent volunteer or husband or child could do for you! If the book/reading level is in the system it is ready for your library all leveled and wonderful.  If it's not, feel free to yell curse words at your computer (after school, of course). 

 I give two books to each student (their independent level).  Their parent initials once they've read the book and answered some comprehension questions (provided on the back of their folder). In my 6 years of doing this, I've only had 3 books lost.  Parents are fined the cost of the book if it is lost. 

 When they are ready to get new books, they turn them in here and I'll switch them out during recess (or you can for sure have a parent be in charge of this if you are lucky to have volunteers). 

 Right now, this is my "book shopping" shelf that my students use during Daily 5 because we have our own grade-level take-home reading library. But before we had that luxury, I used these books as my take-home readers.  

I'm in search of new bins to hold my books. I'm not a fan of the shoe boxes anymore.  Any recommendations? 

I keep track of what book each student gets on a log. That way they don't get a book more than once.  It takes honestly 20 seconds to switch out a student's book. 

My students and parents LOVE that I send home take-home reading books. In this pack, I explain EVERYTHING you need to know about how to set up a take-home reading system in your classroom!

This pack gives you everything you need to learn how to set up a take-home reading system in your class!  Just add books!

Included in this pack:

• Folder Front Covers (5 options and customizable)
• Reading at Home Folder Back Cover Letter (4 options)
• Parent Reading Log Form
• Teacher Reading Log Form
• We Need Your Books Back (letter)
• Pictures of folders and examples
• Tips and Tricks
• How to Build up Take-Home Library

Take-Home Reading Folders {Made Easy}

I am so excited about my new folders! I just have a tad-bit of a clipart addiction to Melonheadz and I couldn't wait to put her little Kidlets on the front of my reading folders.

My students and parents LOVE that I send home take-home reading books. In this pack, I explain EVERYTHING you need to know about how to set up a take-home reading system in your classroom!

This pack gives you everything you need to learn how to set up a take-home reading system in your class!  Just add books!

Included in this pack:

• Folder Front Covers (5 options and customizable)
• Reading at Home Folder Back Cover Letter (4 options)
• Parent Reading Log Form
• Teacher Reading Log Form
• We Need Your Books Back (letter)
• Pictures of folders and examples
• Tips and Tricks
• How to Build up Take-Home Library

Reading in the Upper Grades

I thought I'd share some things today that may help you with the way you teach reading in the upper grades. If nothing else, I have some printables that you might be able to use in your classrooms. :)

1. Reading Conferences

I love conferring with my students! I love the one-on-one time I get with each student where I can genuinely focus on them. This sheet I made is very basic, but I love having a spot to give them feedback; I always give my students a positive comment and then one thing for them to work on.

2. Guided Reading

The best resources I've found for guided reading in the upper grades come from my bloggy pals at Lesson Plan SOS. You must check out their Become a Guided Reading Guru packet. Nothing I could say or upload could even come close to the amazing resources you'll find there. :)

3. Take Home Reading
(for my struggling readers)

I'm actually in the process of beginning a take home reading system for my struggling readers. I used ziplock baggies, put on a cute label, and made copies of this little document. I'll be sending home the bags on Friday and each day they should bring their bags back and forth between school at home. On Friday, they'll turn in the assignment and get new books. I'm excited to see how this will help my little cuties that need extra help! 

4. Raz-Kids

Our school is lucky! Our principal has bought every teacher subscriptions to this site for the past couple of years. It is an excellent resource for giving students access to books on their level. The comprehension quizzes at the end of each book, is a definite plus!! The listening and recording components are excellent for developing fluency, and the best part is the Rocket Room where students get to earn points for the books they read; it motivates students to work on this at home and to always do their best work. 

5. Literature Circles

I usually don't start my literature circles until after we come back from the holidays, but I wanted to share this now in case some of you are or will be starting soon. This is my literature circle booklet. I've been using it for the past couple of years, but I recently revamped the whole thing and uploaded to my TpT store. 

One thing I've struggled with in the past is how to keep my students accountable during their literature circles. This is what I've come up with: a booklet that runs students through the elements of literature and some of the reading comprehension strategies. 

The best part is these rubrics I've developed where students can rate them selves on their participation, effort, etc. I've also included a teacher copy, which I love! I love comparing the two scores and seeing if students are really grading themselves accurately. I've also included a reading journal where students can keep track of their days' reading. I've found that it helps keep students on track and accountable of their reading each day.

I will introduce this booklet during during our next read aloud, so I can teach them how to fill it out correctly and so all students know what is expected. Then, when I release them into their groups, they should know what I'm looking for.

If you like this, and feel it's something you'd like to use in your classroom, please stop by my TpT store and pick up a copy. 

Have a fabulous weekend!