FOCUS ON LIBRARY/READING AREA!
Several of you have asked for more information specific to interest areas that exist in your classroom. Thanks so much for your suggestions!!
Over the next few weeks, I will focus your teacher tips on ways to bring in more open ended learning experiences for your students as well as making physical changes to your interest areas. This weeks focus will be on the Library/Reading Center!
A few tips before making any changes to your library/reading center.
1. Give students advance notice of the changes that are about to take place in the interest area. The classroom is just as much a part of the child's life as it is the teachers. Letting students know in advance of the changes gives them something extra special to look forward to along with helping those that may struggle with transition times.
2. Allow students the chance to be a part of the changes to the interest area. Creating a chart of items they would like to see be added to the center or asking them to draw a new design of the library/reading center helps create ownership and pride by the students!
3. Putting one item in means taking one item out of the library/reading center. Clutter can suffocate a child's chance to learn! Go through the materials currently in the interest area and pull out the ones students have mastered at this point in the year. Put them away in storage for next year or for use during a specific theme.
4. Be intentional with items being added to the interest area.
Will my students enjoy the material that is being added?
How can I make a connection with the material being added and the children?
Is the item purposeful/useful?
5. Books should ALWAYS be rotated out on a regular basis where the themes of the book are in alignment with your current theme or activity within the class. Books that are out of season or do not reflect current learning experiences should be placed in storage until the approporiate time for them to be shared with the children. If their are some books that are fitting for a specific interest area.....put them in those areas. Books shouldn't be limited to just the reading area. Think outside your comfort zone!
6. And most of all......make sure the materials and design changes are safe and appropriate for your students.
Below are several websites that focus on design changes for the library/reading center along with suggestions for adding appropriate learning materials. The sites also focus on activities to extend and challenge experiences for your students.
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This includes ideas on providing children the opportunity to create their own library books not only for the reading center but for all interest areas.
http://prekinders.com/class-books/
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A website that shows different library/reading center floor plans.
http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/literacy_areas.html
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More floor plan ideas with soft cushioning furniture. It's so important to have the reading area set up as comfortable as possible. Think about when visiting a bookstore or library.....most have comfortable seating and are very neutral in the colors of funiture and accessories.
http://prekinders.com/reading-center/
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A great website that includes several materials to extend learning opportunities for your children in the listening/reading center.
http://www.kinderplans.com/content.cfm?PageId=186
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