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

Getting Organized!

I'm SO over sticky notes!  I love this to-do list Weekly Planner to keep my brain in order.  Sometimes I can't remember what I went into the workroom for.  It's getting bad. ;)

I've attached a couple of versions of this and hopefully you can find one to use.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new personalized clipboard from C. Jayne Teach. It makes a to-do list look glamorous.   I'm thinking you need one as an end-of-year gift to yourself.  Maybe buy one for your teammates while you're at it. personalized goodies I got from C. Jayne Teach. These products are TOP NOTCH. 

End of Year Gift Idea {Jump Ropes}

This post contains affiliate links:

I got a head start on my end of year gifts for my students this year! I went to the Dollar Tree and bought 24 jump ropes!  Well...actually, I ordered a box online and they shipped it to my nearest store for free.  I hate going in to the Dollar Tree and they only have like 21 jump ropes and I need 24!  So you can grab them {here} online.

You can download one for your grade {here}!

And I always make Slideshow at the end of each year! It's always a big hit.  We watch it with the parents on the last day of school. 

Listen to Reading MADE EASY with FarFaria

Have you been struggling with your Listen to Reading center? I do Daily 5 and we all know Listen to Reading is a popular choice. I mean, my students love it and I love that they love it... BUT!!!  The CD Players are always broken, the CDs are scratched, and the batteries last for 34 seconds (on a good day).  I have a new solution!  Hopefully you have at least one iPad in your classroom. I have one iPad that I can let my students use during Listen to Reading and I just use a splitter to allow 3 students (not 5 like it's capable of) to listen at the same time:

What are they listening to, you ask?  

Farfaria!

It's an amazing, simple, educational APP that allows my students to pick from a wide variety of books.  In Farfaria, they have many different islands they can go to (genres).  They can pick a book and the APP will read them the book. They can even pick based on a level of reading (although I don't have my students choose this way). 

It's VERY easy to follow along for my students. I love that they have to pay attention to the words because the APP doesn't turn the page for them.  The student turns the page after the last word has been read (it highlights the word as it reads it to the student).  Perfect for fluency!

There are over 600 books on this APP (and 5 new books added weekly)! Luckily, I tell my students that they have to pick a book within 2 minutes, so they don't waste their time just browsing books instead of listening to books.  Although the books on this APP are not your mainstream books you see in the library...there are still many fairytales, tons of non-fiction, and some great fiction stories.  

Here are the logistics:

For $3.99 per month (cancel anytime) you get-

• Unlimited reading from our library of more than 600 stories.
• Five new, engaging stories added every week.
• Interactive experience is fun for kids and easy for parents
• Every story can be read aloud with a Read-to-Me feature.
• Reading-level badge on every story cover.
• Offline access to read Favorite stories
• No advertising. No hidden fees.

OR... you can download the free version and read one book a day for free.

The monthly version is great and it is WORTH it!  I looked into another popular APP that students can listen to books from and you had to pay PER book and their books were 4.99 EACH.  So, to pay $3.99 for unlimited use and over 600 book is WELL worth it.  Are you getting books from authors like Eric Carl or Audrey Wood...no... But you are getting high quality story books that my students love to read!

Click the picture to learn more!