The One iPad Class ~ Library Apps

I've discovered a few apps that have helped make my library life easier.

Now, I'm going to start with book leveling, since I don't have students check out books-but I do have some apps for that too! (Fifth in the Middle also has a great post on this)

{FREE} Scholastic Book Wizard (just like the website) lets you scan books and add them into your library.

When it works, it will pull up the book with the different levels and description.

But a lot of times, I get this message instead...

What frustrates me about this is that the majority of the books that I buy are from Scholastic-and not listed in the wizard. 

After I scan (and actually get a book), I add it to my library. When I access it, it looks like

One that I really  like is
{$3.99} Literacy Leveler. Now, you can get it in a bundle with the classroom checkout app (and save a dollar). I only purchased the leveler, as the kids are free to take and return as many books as they like in my class.

When you scan a book, it looks like this:

If the book is not in the app, then

I have found that the number of books it doesn't know is way less than book wizard-I don't get that message very often.

Usually, I get

Sometimes it will have the DRA and GRL level filled in as well. If I need to add it to my library, I hit the "Add to My Library" in the corner. It will be blue if I need to add it. I do wish that is was bigger or in a better place-sometimes I forget to hit it.

When I access my library, this beauty pops up

I love that I can see the covers of the books.

It's also cool because it has this handy dandy chart built right into the app

This gives me a nice range for things.

One classroom checkout app that I have found is
{FREE} BookSource. This is also a web-based service, and you need to sign up through the internet before you download the app.

I use this one mostly to keep track of what books I have.

It scans super easy, and pretty much has every book that I've scanned.

Definitely not all of my library-in fact, these are just the fantasy-myth and fairy tales books I have!

The really cool thing is that I can assign genres, collect information on the condition of the book, students can review it and more-all from when they check the book in and out of the app.

Right now, I'm just starting to sort into genres. A summer project will be to scan all my books-maybe I'll start a checkout system next year (dependent on if I get some class iPads!)

Another app I found was Level It Books {$3.99}. I did not purchase it because it did not have the greatest reviews when I was looking at it, and I figured between the Scholastic Book Wizard and Literacy Leveler (which had better reviews, and that's why I purchased that one), I would be covered for most of my books.

Now I just have to go through all of my old books! :)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Wild Libraries

Ready for some Wild Reading?

Brought to you by:
Some wild thoughts:

Currently, my library looks like this.

Except I have two wire shelves filled now! :)

 Most of my books have a sticker on them, which matches the sticker on the bin.

They are mostly sorted by genre, topic or author-NOT but lexile level, guided reading level or grade level equivalent.

To help me remember which stickers go with with genre, topic or author, I have all the stickers with their labels on a HUGE index card.

So far, this system works pretty well. It easily allows me to reclassify books as needed (like if one topic gets too big, and I can divide it into different subtopics-which I did with American History! I split it into American History and War History. And Nonfiction Animals! I split that into Animals and Ocean Animals.)

Inside some of the covers, I have the Guided Reading Level and Grade Level Equivalent. (We use Guided Reading Levels in our small groups)

I have been using Scholastic Book Wizard, but lately,  they've only had one or two books in their database out of a stack, (which I totally don't get, because I buy almost all my books from them. If they sell them, why aren't they in the database?)


I don't force my kids to read within a certain band-but they have the information if they want it!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Library Organization

I'm linking up with Joy in the Journey and Compassionate Teacher for their Tricks on a Thursday  Linky.




Today's Topic: Library Organization!

This post has been planned in my head for a really long time....some of the picture you'll see are from my classroom last year!!

Thanks for the opportunity for remembering to write it! ;)

I store all my books in the $1 clear shoe bins (sometimes, I just leave the lids at the store...I would throw them out anyway!)

I love them because they store a lot of books, are easy to see through, and fairly sturdy.

My books are organized by genre, subject, author.

My class last year had a lot to do with the organization of the library. Before them, all I had were picture books-so they got a lot of say in what I bought and how it was organized.

Each genre, subject, author has a different sticker. The sticker on the book matches the sticker on the bin

 All of the stickers are different. I keep track of the stickers and their topic on this card...which makes it easy for me to add in new books!

On the inside cover of the book, I have my name in the top left corner. On the bottom left corner, I have the Guided Reading Level and Grade Level Equivalent. (for the books I was able to find the info for)

This is the library I had last year:

I also have a long shelf of books (mostly higher-level picture books) that is not pictured (probably about 6-7 bins)

This is my library this year...

See a difference? I've definitely add and refined since the first picture was taken. I have a bit of a book buying problem. :)

How is your library organized?

Wednesday's Outfit

Shirt: NY & Co
Tank: Target
Pants: JCP
Shoes: DSW

I did have on my blue open cardigan for the day- but those picture came out blurry. :)

Today was field day (yuck!), and it was 1/2 day (less than-we got rained out), so I was left with 2 hours to teach something. I'll share what I did later...they really enjoyed it!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

PS....Jivey's having a 400 follower giveaway!

Daily 5 Chapter 3

Hello Bloggy Friends! I'm a little late with posting this (ironically, I got sucked into reading a really good series, and couldn't put my Kindle down), but I hope to catch up with everything soon.

Chapter 3 was all about the routines, concepts and materials for doing the Daily 5 in the classroom.

One of the first things that the Sisters mentioned was to have a gathering place for mini-lessons (focus lessons). I try to always have a gathering place, I'm a big fan of Morning Meeting (which I'll post about it a few days), and think kids can learn a little better sitting on the rug in a whole group (less fidgets in their desks!). 

The rest of the chapter was dedicated to picking good fit books, having a place to store the books, and important signals (which should be a put of any classroom routine).

Now, while I agree that children should be reading at their level, they are interested in and can understand what is going on, I also think that at times, children should not only be reading Just Right books, they should also be reading easier books and more challenging books.

Sometimes, our brains just want a break. We ask a lot of our students, and I feel, that sometimes it's okay to have the 4th grader read a picture book. It gives our brain a break, but allows us to keep practicing our skills (hence the reason I have almost 200 romance novels on my Kindle :).

I also think that students should challenge themselves. If they are really interested in a book or topic, but it is above their reading level, I think they should give it a try. I think it stretches their brain to maybe think outside the box, and they can learn from it.

Now, I do think children should be reading Just Right books most of the time. But sometimes, it's okay to read that really cool, but really easy picture book or the harder book about that really cool topic. But those are just my thoughts. :)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Book Leveling

So as the year is coming to an end (and I have to pack up everything and move), I find myself looking over my library.  Now, I've taught Kindergarten for two years, as well as working in first, so I have a pretty extensive picture book library (think 2+  18-gallon totes full!). One of the things I did during summer after my first year of teaching, was to level all of my picture books.

Now, I've amassed a lot of chapter books this year, but I just sorted them into categories and tried to get them out to the kids as quickly as possible so they had something to read.

I thought that since I was moving to a new district/school that actually does Guided Reading the correct way (with leveled groups reading at their level) instead of just calling Guided Reading (having kids read grade level books, all at the same time, never mixed according to level), that I would take the opportunity to level my new chapter book library (which all arrived this year via Scholastic! :).

What I usually do is use Scholastic Book Wizard (it's the third icon on the left side going down). I just type in the name of the book or author, and it will pop up. You can search using Grade Levels, Guided Reading Levels, DRA,  and Lexiles. I usually search Guided Reading Levels and put the equivalent grade level in my books as well. Sometimes, if the book doesn't show up (which can happen) I try the author instead. Also, some books will only have say, Lexile Levels or Grade Levels. I have this awesome chart that helps me find the equivalents for that.

For each book, I put my name in the upper left hand corner on the front cover. The Guided Reading Level and Grade Equivalent go in the bottom left hand corner...like this (Ignore the fingers :) : 

I have this AWESOME leveling chart, that has all the levels and the equivalents (go ahead, click on it! It's awesome isn't it?)

I have a more basic chart hung by my library, and I tell the kids their levels, so they know what books will be a really good fit for them. Of course, if they want to read a higher book or a lower book, I don't discouraged them, I'm happy they're reading.

I hope you found this helpful!
Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn