Re: Restricting areas of the library

[Brook Berg <booklady@UNITELC.COM>]

Regarding the restriction of areas.....
I think it is so important to review the mission of your center.

My personal mission as a media specialist is to teach students and teachers
to be wise consumers of information.  With this in mind I decided to level
the books in my prek-6 media center.  I was a reading specialist before
becoming a library media specialist and the most important part of a child's
ability to "consume" information is to be able to read and understand what
they read!

I went through ALL of the 'E' books and figured out the reading levels -
many of the picture books are actually written at a 5+ reading level! -
Then we divided and shelved the books according to their levels.

When pre-readers and emergent readers come into the media center they know
that going to the 'P' books and Level 1 books are where they will find books
that they WILL be able to READ!  As they progress to the Transitional level
they move up to Levels 2, 3, and 4.

The picture books that are written above the 4th level are still kept the
'E' section but in a Picture Book section.  Students know that these are the
books that are to Read With some one at home.

We include the non-fiction books the leveling.  If a book is written in
levels 1, 2, or 3 they are kept in the leveled book section and labeled with
the levels clearly marked.

Students have really appreciated being able to READ the books they choose.
Parents and teachers like it too.  And the best thing (as far as I'm
concerned) is our student's reading scores increased!

Now I have moved to a middle school and am considering the benefits of
marking levels on the books there too.



~^~
Brook A. Berg
Media Specialist
ISD 22
Detroit Lakes Middle School
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
bberg@detlakes.k12.mn.us

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