My fire Marshall is the same: no electrical things other than what school provides so no microwaves, fridges or coffee pots. We have to leave 18” of space below ceilings, nothing hanging from ceiling and cover 50% of wall space. Also need 3’ space available by every exit. For awhile they were very strict and made inspections with the principals and we would get a list of things that needed to fixed! Luckily that doesn’t seem to be happening.
As a special education teacher who used to be a reading intervention specialist, I agree with you on levels. If kids have a special interest and that makes them pick a book above their level, then they will often work for it and it will improve their reading skills. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to enforce levels. (And if kids pick below their level, it's really not the big deal that people think it is.)
I was the school librarian. My kids could pick any book they could read on their own using the 5 finger rule. The 5 finger rule is you read one full page in a book. For every word you do not know put down a finger. When you reach 5 fingers you are not yet ready for that book. They also could pick one book for an adult to read to you. The third book could be a magazine, audio book, or an easy to read book.
As long as your classroom is warm, inviting and comfortable for you and your students that is allot needs to be. Great news about the rug. I love it looking so good. Don’t sweat the fire marshal there are workarounds. Love ya friend. Go Noles!
Use painters tape. You should be able to remove it from the book cover if need be. Or try marvelous tape (I know I spelled that wrong) or washi tape. All should be removed easily and you can write the letter or number on the tape with a Sharpie.
You could put them in alphabetical order by author's last name and not worry about the colorful labels. You could do it loosely just by first letter of last name rather than true alphabetical order. Third graders can definitely be taught how to find the author's last name on a book's spine and you could put some of your organizationally-inclined students in charge of making sure it stays in order.
I organize my books in bins based on category but I only have a label on the bin, usually with a picture of one of the books or the characters. I teach kindergarten and for the last 3 years my kids have been able to manage this really well. I have a basket to the side if someone is in a rush or can’t figure out where it goes but that didn’t even get used super often.
Like you said, I’m sure you already figured out how to organize your library, but I’ve taught for 18 years so I’ve gone through A LOT of systems lol. What I’ve been doing the past few years is to really narrow down my book “categories”. For example, I will have some that will fit into a particular topic (mixture of fiction and non) and have their own bin: dogs, dinosaurs, cats, horses, etc. but the rest of my bins are a particular series that is popular with my students: captain underpants, babysitters club, etc. That way they know where it goes without using stickers. I will say the only area that is mixed up is on my rotating book rack and on that I have “quick reads”. Lower level chapter books, fly guy, leveled National Geographic, etc. and I do have a colored sticker on those so the kids know to put them back there. Also I always have kids who love to organize the library so I will have some of them do that periodically to make sure the books are in the right bin. Your room looks great! Good luck this year!
You could take a colored string or ribbon and loop it thru the book tying it on the spine, color coding the books accordingly. Or you could make it a class job to put away library books from a return bin, instead of making you do this.
I'm also over classroom libraries. I have picture books all in one bin and a few extras for specific topics. Like lego, Clifford, Arthur, etc. And my chapter books and graphic novels have specific bins. I don't label the books. I did that last year and hated it. Each bin had a number, and each book had a matching number. It didn't work for me.
I tapped labels to the school books. I found a great resource on TpT. I figured that if I ever left, the next teacher would thank me for the organization 😂.
I teach in FL and our fire marshal is also a stickler for wall decor. What they say is that, if there are sprinklers, you can cover up to 50% of the wall space. But if there are no sprinklers, then it can only have 30% covered. I always wonder how there are teachers in the setup videos, that cover their walls and doors entirely, and it’s ok? I wish I could cover my walls more. We are not even allowed to cover our doors. Your room is looking wonderful!
As an Architect, I can tell you this depends on fire ratings of a space, which can vary based on how the building or spaces were designed/classified and which codes are used. There are so many factors there. Florida most likely has more restrictions to deal with there. Doors can't be covered if they have to be fire-rated, but not all doors have to be.
Why can't you put stickers on your school's books? Have you checked with other teachers at your school? I organized my library bins by theme. I labeled the bin with the theme written as well as a picture. Then I printed small versions of those labels and taped them to the back corner of each book (even the school books). It was easy for the students to book books away.
I LOVE the blue wall with the neutrals!! My “accent wall” is lime green 😣🤮! L I M E GREEN! Yuck. But my room is huge so I ignore it! My library is mixed. Leveled and Genre with stickers on the books. Kids will mix them up. It’s ok. Don’t sweat it! That’s my summer project each year to reorganize it and reteach the next class library routines.
I covered my blue wall with poster board until i can paint it next summer lol i called my dad literally crying "dad you dont understand it is the ugliest blue its not a cute blue" 🤣🤣🤣 that first day is so overwhelming
When I was in elementary, by third grade I was a Z+ so I didn’t have a very wide variety of options. And If I’m being honest the low variety made me kind of hate reading. By middle school, I was finally aloud to read what I wanted, even if it was a level behind. Id say, let them pick whatever books interest them, and if it’s a few levels ahead, they can work for it and if it’s behind then encourage a tougher one next time!
I’m planing on telling my kids to pick a book or two at their level and one or two within 5 for their harder or easier book. So if they are 1.5 they get two that are up to a 2.0. I’m afraid to organize another way and have book shoppers constantly. I only want once a week for book shopping
You could put your books in alphabetical order by the author! Like A-G bin, H-M bin, N-S bin, T-Z bin! Book series would still stay right next to each other and you won’t need a bin for each letter!
I’m not excited for classroom setup this year :/ i’m a 6th year reading specialist and I’m probably going to be in the hallway unfortunately :( I heard they were giving my tiny room the size of a closet to the gym teachers to store stuff so that puts me and all my things in the hall. Kids steal at my school so much so that I caught a student IN MY PURSE STEALING last year and the student attacked me when I tried to get my freaking wallet back so being in the hall is giving me severe anxiety:/
I am SO SORRY. you do not deserve that. I don’t know your situation but maybe look into working somewhere where you can be givin basic human respect. That was a short comment and I’ve already heard so much disrespect! You don’t deserve that! I’m sorry. I hope all goes well for you girl. Lots of love. 💖💖✨💖💖
I'm so puzzled by why the Fire Marshall would have any concern with the amount of wall space you are using! Please fill me in on what fire hazard that would be causing.
The More paper/things you have hanging on the wall, the faster a fire will spread. Fire will spread slower on empty walls compared to walls covers in poster board. Does that make sense? I know it really is a strange thing.
Also, just put a color label on each book. It doesn't even matter. No one will care if you put a label on the school's books! Honestly it'll help the next teacher.
I hate only letting kids pick books on "their level". My son's school tests the levels by having the kids read a passage and answer questions. So the level isn't about how well he can read but his answers to the questions. I get that comprehension is an important part of reading, but my son told me he knows the answers, but sometimes he just wants to read the easier books. So he gets levels lower than what he can actually read and understand. (Sorry if that doesn't make sense).
My fire Marshall is the same: no electrical things other than what school provides so no microwaves, fridges or coffee pots. We have to leave 18” of space below ceilings, nothing hanging from ceiling and cover 50% of wall space. Also need 3’ space available by every exit. For awhile they were very strict and made inspections with the principals and we would get a list of things that needed to fixed! Luckily that doesn’t seem to be happening.
As a special education teacher who used to be a reading intervention specialist, I agree with you on levels. If kids have a special interest and that makes them pick a book above their level, then they will often work for it and it will improve their reading skills. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to enforce levels. (And if kids pick below their level, it's really not the big deal that people think it is.)
I was the school librarian. My kids could pick any book they could read on their own using the 5 finger rule. The 5 finger rule is you read one full page in a book. For every word you do not know put down a finger. When you reach 5 fingers you are not yet ready for that book. They also could pick one book for an adult to read to you. The third book could be a magazine, audio book, or an easy to read book.
In Texas, we have to keep 18 inches from the ceiling plain. So if your cinder block walls are similar, it’s like the top 2 blocks.
I had a big library so I did a leveled library on the bottom row and a Genre Library on the top row. Best of both worlds.
As long as your classroom is warm, inviting and comfortable for you and your students that is allot needs to be. Great news about the rug. I love it looking so good. Don’t sweat the fire marshal there are workarounds. Love ya friend. Go Noles!
Use painters tape. You should be able to remove it from the book cover if need be. Or try marvelous tape (I know I spelled that wrong) or washi tape. All should be removed easily and you can write the letter or number on the tape with a Sharpie.
You could put them in alphabetical order by author's last name and not worry about the colorful labels. You could do it loosely just by first letter of last name rather than true alphabetical order. Third graders can definitely be taught how to find the author's last name on a book's spine and you could put some of your organizationally-inclined students in charge of making sure it stays in order.
I organize my books in bins based on category but I only have a label on the bin, usually with a picture of one of the books or the characters. I teach kindergarten and for the last 3 years my kids have been able to manage this really well. I have a basket to the side if someone is in a rush or can’t figure out where it goes but that didn’t even get used super often.
What you said about structure …me too! My last school was a free for all do whatever. My new school has more structure
Like you said, I’m sure you already figured out how to organize your library, but I’ve taught for 18 years so I’ve gone through A LOT of systems lol. What I’ve been doing the past few years is to really narrow down my book “categories”. For example, I will have some that will fit into a particular topic (mixture of fiction and non) and have their own bin: dogs, dinosaurs, cats, horses, etc. but the rest of my bins are a particular series that is popular with my students: captain underpants, babysitters club, etc. That way they know where it goes without using stickers. I will say the only area that is mixed up is on my rotating book rack and on that I have “quick reads”. Lower level chapter books, fly guy, leveled National Geographic, etc. and I do have a colored sticker on those so the kids know to put them back there.
Also I always have kids who love to organize the library so I will have some of them do that periodically to make sure the books are in the right bin.
Your room looks great! Good luck this year!
For the books, I bought a stamp with my name (also Stokes ;)) and alphabetized them by author. So easy!! Only my books have the stamp inside!
Obsessed with you videos makes me so excited to finish my masters and get in the classroom ❤️
Classroom set ups are so much fun. I won't be doing it this year bc I am doing student teaching and can't be employed by the school district.
You could take a colored string or ribbon and loop it thru the book tying it on the spine, color coding the books accordingly. Or you could make it a class job to put away library books from a return bin, instead of making you do this.
i love the classroom so much
Hey brodi klaire how are you nice to meet you
I'm also over classroom libraries. I have picture books all in one bin and a few extras for specific topics. Like lego, Clifford, Arthur, etc.
And my chapter books and graphic novels have specific bins. I don't label the books. I did that last year and hated it. Each bin had a number, and each book had a matching number. It didn't work for me.
I tapped labels to the school books. I found a great resource on TpT. I figured that if I ever left, the next teacher would thank me for the organization 😂.
Looks great! Don't overwhelm yourself.
I teach in FL and our fire marshal is also a stickler for wall decor. What they say is that, if there are sprinklers, you can cover up to 50% of the wall space. But if there are no sprinklers, then it can only have 30% covered. I always wonder how there are teachers in the setup videos, that cover their walls and doors entirely, and it’s ok? I wish I could cover my walls more. We are not even allowed to cover our doors. Your room is looking wonderful!
As an Architect, I can tell you this depends on fire ratings of a space, which can vary based on how the building or spaces were designed/classified and which codes are used. There are so many factors there. Florida most likely has more restrictions to deal with there. Doors can't be covered if they have to be fire-rated, but not all doors have to be.
Good morning Bailey happy Sunday morning and I loved your vlogs and you are amazing Supporter and I'm proud of you
I just started watching your chanel yesterday. And I love it.
I just posted day one of my classroom setup!! Im a first year middle school ELA reacher! Your videos have been such an inspiration! ☺️✨💕
I love your content! You’ve totally inspired me to start my own channel!!
Are you doing other classroom video and Amazon wish list for your new classroom video and lakeshore extra supplies storage cubes and data folder
for the each bin of books you could make a list of the names of all the books that go in that bin then then kids know where each book goes
I would take it home and store in your attic or something. I have a door on my attic that I took off the hinges haha🥰
Why can't you put stickers on your school's books? Have you checked with other teachers at your school? I organized my library bins by theme. I labeled the bin with the theme written as well as a picture. Then I printed small versions of those labels and taped them to the back corner of each book (even the school books). It was easy for the students to book books away.
I LOVE the blue wall with the neutrals!! My “accent wall” is lime green 😣🤮! L I M E GREEN! Yuck. But my room is huge so I ignore it! My library is mixed. Leveled and Genre with stickers on the books. Kids will mix them up. It’s ok. Don’t sweat it! That’s my summer project each year to reorganize it and reteach the next class library routines.
Sorry to hear about that wall. 😔
I covered my blue wall with poster board until i can paint it next summer lol i called my dad literally crying "dad you dont understand it is the ugliest blue its not a cute blue" 🤣🤣🤣 that first day is so overwhelming
When I was in elementary, by third grade I was a Z+ so I didn’t have a very wide variety of options. And If I’m being honest the low variety made me kind of hate reading. By middle school, I was finally aloud to read what I wanted, even if it was a level behind. Id say, let them pick whatever books interest them, and if it’s a few levels ahead, they can work for it and if it’s behind then encourage a tougher one next time!
Hi baily good morning. I love skill share . And I love your classroom so far . Bye girl.
Glad you got to meet your team teacher!! What curriculum are y’all using for ELA? 😊
I’m planing on telling my kids to pick a book or two at their level and one or two within 5 for their harder or easier book. So if they are 1.5 they get two that are up to a 2.0. I’m afraid to organize another way and have book shoppers constantly. I only want once a week for book shopping
My favorite videos to watch!!!! Sorry I’m late ❤️
I put the organizational stickers on the schools books. No ones said anything yet.
Hi!! I love love love you and your videos!! I was wondering if you could share where you got your “oh hey third grade” shirt?
Try painters tape for the books
Did I miss an update on the desk? You’re allowed to bring yours?! That’s so exciting!!!!!
I wish you filmed while your doing stuff! 😭
Where the 7-8 day one and I love your video
You could put your books in alphabetical order by the author! Like A-G bin, H-M bin, N-S bin, T-Z bin! Book series would still stay right next to each other and you won’t need a bin for each letter!
This is how we do it and it works super!
If it’s better than paper it’s fire retardant. I always keep the label
I’m not excited for classroom setup this year :/ i’m a 6th year reading specialist and I’m probably going to be in the hallway unfortunately :( I heard they were giving my tiny room the size of a closet to the gym teachers to store stuff so that puts me and all my things in the hall. Kids steal at my school so much so that I caught a student IN MY PURSE STEALING last year and the student attacked me when I tried to get my freaking wallet back so being in the hall is giving me severe anxiety:/
I am SO SORRY. you do not deserve that. I don’t know your situation but maybe look into working somewhere where you can be givin basic human respect. That was a short comment and I’ve already heard so much disrespect! You don’t deserve that! I’m sorry. I hope all goes well for you girl. Lots of love. 💖💖✨💖💖
I'm so puzzled by why the Fire Marshall would have any concern with the amount of wall space you are using! Please fill me in on what fire hazard that would be causing.
The More paper/things you have hanging on the wall, the faster a fire will spread. Fire will spread slower on empty walls compared to walls covers in poster board. Does that make sense? I know it really is a strange thing.
Washi tape will stick to books but comes off without damaging!
In my classroom I’m labeling my books with bookmarks instead of stickers
If I couldn’t label books I would put them in their series
Also, just put a color label on each book. It doesn't even matter. No one will care if you put a label on the school's books! Honestly it'll help the next teacher.
Maybe obvious and simple categories like “animals”, “people”, “sports”, “make-believe” etc
I would leave it until they say it!!
I feel like labeling their book with a sticker isn’t that bad, as long as it is still labeled that it belongs to school
I hate only letting kids pick books on "their level". My son's school tests the levels by having the kids read a passage and answer questions. So the level isn't about how well he can read but his answers to the questions. I get that comprehension is an important part of reading, but my son told me he knows the answers, but sometimes he just wants to read the easier books. So he gets levels lower than what he can actually read and understand. (Sorry if that doesn't make sense).
I really hope you get ur kidney table and ur own desk
Like you new video today and you look really cute