Classroom Library

Teacher Interview Questions 

 

Name: Mrs. Turner
Grade: 3rd Grade

School: Oakland Heights

1. Are there any inexpensive/free resources for a class library? 
Yes, Scholastic is a great resource. You can earn free books if your class orders books. It just depends on how much money is spent. The books are very affordable, and I order them at times.           

     

 
2. How do you organize your books? (leveled, grouped, colors) 
I have my books organized by genre. 

3. Are there any rules or procedures you have for your classroom library? 
Yes, two students at a time to check out books, and we have a crate to return books. I have two librarians that put them back where they belong.

4. How are books checked out? 
Students may check out books during any free time, finish work early, or first thing in the morning. I used to have a specific system, but I have gone back to the honest system. I had too many students not checking them out properly. I plan on getting an app, and then having them check out books using an iPad after I have them all scanned in my phone.

5. How long may they be checked out? 
I don't have a limit on how long they may check them out. As long as they need to read it. They get to check out two school library books per week, and we also have a reading group book they are responsible for reading each week. I don't feel like it is fair to make them check in a book they are finished with because they don't have time to complete it.

6. What type of reading lab does your school provide? 
We don't have a reading lab.

7. Can your students take books home? 
They can not take any books from my room home. They may only take home their library books.

8. Do you have AR testing that counts toward the student's grade or do you have an incentivized reading program? 
We do not use AR. I need to do an incentive program.

9. Does your classroom library support English language learners? 
My classroom library has a range of levels. I don't have any Spanish and English books. (Our school library does.) However, the best way for them to learn English is to practice reading and speaking it. I do have lower level books for students that need them.

10. How do you support parent involvement with your classroom library? 
I don' t know that I do.

11. What do you do to get your students excited about reading?

We read a lot!! I love to help them understand how reading opens up so many worlds by helping them learn to "see" the books in their minds. 


Image from: Oakland Heights Website