Management Monday!

Do you send home books for you students to read? 

I send my books home in this laminated manila folder with velcro pieces on the back:

Here are my leveled books that I send home (I have about 3 more bins that need to be leveled at home!):

 The top books are paper books from A-Z readers (They are great for teachers just starting their take home library). They are great for the lower levels (hence the reason I only have to level F) because sometimes those levels are hard to find books for! The second shelf books are all leveled in the corner of each with an apple sticker with the level written on it.  I keep track of every single book that I send home in a binder (you can see it on the second shelf).  The parents also keep track of what books their child has read by signing off each book they read (that log is in their folder and kept there). 

*You can download the teacher's book log and 

the parent/student's book log {here}.

*You can download the cover for the folder {here}-no worries, this one doesn't have my name.

Tips & FAQ: 

Where do you get your books?

Thrift stores, garage sales, grants, and Scholastic.  I can NEVER resist when Scholastic has a "50 books for $50.00" sale. Also at the beginning of each school year, I ask the parents if that have any books to donate to our library (I get tons of books).

How do you level all of those books?

I use Scholastic's Book Wizard.  You can type in the title of your book and find the level of many (not all) titles.  Make sure you choose your leveling system on the right hand side (we do guided reading levels A-Z).  Our district uses Fountas and Pinnell for our reading level testing. They provided us with a leveling guide that I refer to when I'm leveling the books that are not in the book wizard.  I also do a lot of comparing with books that are already leveled.

When can students get new books?

I give each student 2 books (depending on their reading level) and I ask the parents to make sure they read them at least 2 times.  After the parent signs off on the books, they can return their folder and I will switch out their books.  They can do it any day of the week.  I also make sure to give parents tips on how to quiz their child on comprehension, how to work on fluency, and even how to take a picture walk.

Do you send books home that are ON the student's level?

NOPE! I send home their "independent" level. Which basically means that I send home books that are one level below the level that I work with them on. It ensures the students does not become frustrated while reading at home. 

I did not put this all together by myself! With the help of my teammate (she's one of the best teachers I know-Thanks Jess), I have finally got the take home readers organized and managed!

What do you do?