Middle School Classroom Library

Hi! My name is Olivia Boyer and I am a sixth grade Ancient Civilizations and seventh grade English Language Arts teacher in Savannah, Georgia. I am focusing on incorporating reader's response in all of my classes through the use of book clubs. Each student will choose a book to read, I will put them in book clubs and they will discuss as a group and they will respond as a group. This new type of teaching/classroom management will promote my classroom community, collaboration, and engagement. I am extremely excited to teach in this new manner next year; however, if I want my lessons to be successful, my classroom library needs a vast expansion!

We all know the stereotype that surrounds the teacher's salary: we don't get paid enough. Well, my school is lucky enough to be able to provide me with a little bit of money for classroom supplies and I am so very thankful that I have access to art supplies, folders, storage units, etc.; however, the funds will barely cover the amount that I will need to buy my mentor texts, history texts, classroom sets, etc. In order to have a successful year, I need to have a vast library of which to pull mentor texts, multiple genres, writing samples, etc. Also, our school is split into three sections (lower school, elementary and secondary), and it can be a struggle for students to go to across campus to get a book (students can also use this as an excuse to not go to the library). I think it would be great for the ELA teacher to have a mini-library in the middle school for them to easily access throughout the school year. 

I want my students to be inspired by the library; the setting of that corner of the room should feel like home. I want them to be excited to find something interesting to read during independent reading time. Students should crave the pages of their novel; this is my goal. 

As a teacher, it is my job to inspire...but a good book can create more for a child's world than I ever could dream of communicating. My goal is to have zero reluctant readers in the middle school by the end of next school year. This will prove that book clubs and interactive discussion is the way in which ELA should be taught.

I would like to have the funds by the end of June so that I can buy my books, integrate them into my lesson plans, and buy/make any shelving that I need to house these texts. 

Thank you so very much!! Any little amount helps!