Lynette Richau's Blog post 1 Routman CH. 5 Organize an Outstanding Library

I started my reading with Routman's Ch. 5, Organize an Outstanding Library!  I loved what Routman said about libraries being a necessary staple and not an optional add-on!!  I know that for me, my classroom library has always been a focus.  Any chance I get to invest in my library I do.  Routman even correlates reading achievement to how good the library is.  I knew it was always a priority for me to have a classroom library but I never knew there were specific student achievements related to the classroom library.  She reiterates the importance of allowing students choice in reading as well as picking just right books.  I have seen this make a big difference in my classroom.  A few things I would like to change in my own classroom after reading this chapter are to allow my students some say in how our library is organized as well as what books they would like to have. I never really thought to do that before!  We have always discussed books and authors they liked but I never specifically asked them what books they wished we had.  I also want to let the students do more talking about books.  I also see a need for more books on various cultures.  I think it is imperative that students be able to see themselves in the stories they read.  In my case I may need to be writing some books!!  This chapter was very helpful in that it gave me some great new ideas and issues to think about as well as validating some areas that I am already doing.