Providing a variety of books for your students can help you learn more about them and help them learn more about reading. A classroom library can offer more diverse selections for students while promoting increased reading and enjoyment in reading. It also creates a safe space for students to engage in independent reading and personal exploration.
Because a classroom library is typically a resource that supports students’ reading of self-selected texts, it can help you as a teacher become aware of their personal reading interests. Additionally, it allows students to read aloud and discuss books with peers and teachers, which serves as the perfect opportunity for you to conduct informal assessments of your students’ reading. By doing so, you will become aware of which books are developmentally appropriate for their students and which are not.
Choosing the right book for students isn’t the easiest teaching task. There are many factors to consider -- their reading levels, interests, backgrounds, previous experiences with reading, aspirations and even fears. In fact, it may even be one of the most challenging cognitive tasks a teacher takes on during the school year.
But selecting the right book can be seen as a challenge and a chance to get to know your students better in order to meet them where they are, not where you imagine them to be. By being savvy and working alongside students to pick books that pique their interests, you might just set students up for a lifelong love of reading.
The College of Education at Grand Canyon University offers a diverse range degree programs for current and future teachers. From early childhood, education to secondary program, you’ll find a degree program that’s right for you. To learn more, visit our website or click the Request More Information button on this page.