I’m continuing my series about my favorite classroom spot – The library! Let’s talk about how to set up classroom library expectations that your students will follow all year long! Don’t forget to check out my other posts about classroom libraries:
Organizing Your Classroom Library
5 Tips to Grow Your Classroom Library
The First Week
I don’t allow my students access to the classroom library the first week (or two) of the school year. There is so much to teach them about book care, and I don’t want them to let loose in there and end up with damaged books and a giant mess.
Besides wanting to protect my books, this also builds excitement! The students always look forward to the opening of the library.
I have books in bins at everyone’s table for the first week or two. After they finish their work, they can quietly read books at their table. Early finisher work and library access will come after I’ve had a chance to teach my expectations explicitly. If you’d like to learn more about my early finishers system, click the link below.
Early Finishers – Setting Up for Success
Teaching Classroom Library Expectations
Once all my essential routines and procedures have been taught, I move on to my library expectations. Some of these things might seem self-explanatory, but as any veteran kindergarten teacher will tell you – don’t assume they know anything! : )
Here’s a list of procedures to explicitly teach, model, and practice with your students before allowing open library access.
- How the library is organized.
- How to choose a book.
- Where to go in the classroom to read a book.
- Available library seating and the appropriate way to use it.
- How to handle the book gently.
- What to do when you’re done reading the book.
- What do you do if the book needs mending?
- Rules for sharing a book.
- Volume level allowed in the library.
- When will the library be open for use?
These are the first-week procedures I teach, but later on, you will also need to think about the following topics:
- Student book bins – what can be kept there, and how long?
- What to do with seasonal books.
- What to do when you want to read one of the teacher’s books.
- Checking out a book to take home.
I know it might seem silly, but all of these rules must be taught, modeled, and practiced by the students.
For example, I teach the students how to choose a book. I show them how to take it out carefully, select a place to read it, treat it gently, and then put it back in the same place they found it.
After I model it, I have the students practice for 5-10 minutes. I then re-teach this procedure and practice with them 3-4 times before I consider the skill mastered.
Teaching expectations takes time and patience, but it is worth the investment! You will be so thankful when your class respects your library. Their future teachers will also thank you for showing them how to treat books with love and respect!
Book Care
Teaching students how to handle a book both at school and at home properly is imperative. I created this little poster to use in your room to illustrate the guidelines.
Sit at the rug with books and practice gently holding them and turning the pages. Show the students that you treat books with reverence and they will treat them the same way! Get this free poster by filling out the info below!
Resources for Classroom Library Expectations
To help you teach library routines here are a couple of books and videos that you can use with your students to reinforce the concepts.
Books:
- Manners with a Library Book
- Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library
- Manners in the Library
Videos:
Additional Back-to-School Resources
Classroom organization and setting up expectations are both a big passion of mine. Check out the other resources I have to help get your classroom ready for the 1st day of school!
- Classroom Center Labels
- Visual Schedule Cards
- Classroom Jobs
- Classroom Rules Poster and Coloring Pages
- Visual Direction Cards
