Reader's Workshop Tools: Looking after the Library and Signing Out Books

As I frantically scramble towards the first day of school, I've been putting together some tools for my Reader's Workshop for the year. I'm big on owls this year, so I wanted some new posters/info sheets and sign out sheets which would include some owls.

Looking After Our Classroom Library Poster/Flier PDF/Doc
One of the things I really want to have in the classroom is a sense of community and the feeling that the space belongs to all of us. Last year the students were great at looking after things, but I have found some books in strange places and cushions were an ongoing problem. Hopefully this poster will help everyone, but I'm particularly aiming it at students who volunteer as librarians.

Classroom Library Borrowing PDF/Doc
I allow the students to take up to two books home with them each day. So far (cross fingers) I haven't lost one as students are pretty careful knowing that they're my books from my own money. Last year I used a similar sheet to this one for students to note their name and the book/s. They then ticked it the next day when they returned them, and I signed them when I saw the books. I think this year I might have 2 or 3 grade seven students taking on that duty.

I hope these resources can be of some help to you. Please let me know if there's any other classroom library resources I can share with you or if you have any questions.

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Reader's Workshop Tools: More Star Book Stickers

I began sticking the star stickers from yesterday's post onto the 'winning' books yesterday and was really impressed with how they looked. I'm putting some of those books on display for the students to look at when they first get in. Hopefully it will help to broaden their reading.

I also have two more lots of star stickers - 08/09 stickers for Northern Hemisphere readers and regular old 'star book' for anyone who might just really want to promote a book :)

08/09 Star Book Stickers - PDF

Star Book Stickers - PDF

I've also taken some photos as I've put my class together - I'll post some of them in the next day or two.

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Reader's Workshop Tools: Star Book Labels

In my classroom library post, I mentioned that I labeled all my classroom library books (I also write my name in the front of them all - great way to get them back again) with the 'genre' (or collection) that they belong in. To make the stickers for this, I use mailing labels - usually 16 to a page.

At the end of last year, the students in my class made a list of the best books they had read that year. I have decided to sticker those books, so students have an easier time finding them this year. I could just stick a gold star on them (who doesn't love a good gold star), but instead I've made up a page of stickers, so I thought I'd share them here:

2009 Star Book Stickers (PDF)

These were designed on smaller mailing labels - 30 to a page (I'm using these labels for conferring too). You print them out on the labels and then cut them into long strips of stickers. Or you could print them out on normal paper and paste them on before covering a book. Because it's a PDF document, it can't be altered, but I'll try and put a 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 version together for my Northern Hemisphere peers later today :)

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Reader's Workshop Tools: Bookmarks: Various

I've been playing around with graphics and drawings on my computer, which means I bit together some more bookmarks. They're just for practice, but you may be able to use them. Just print, cut them out, stick front and back together and laminate (if you wish)

Bookmarks- What do you picture?
Bookmarks- Let Your Reading Shine
Bookmarks- Pop into a Book
Bookmarks - Character questions
Bookmarks - Reading lets you bloom

Hope they're of some use to you. You can find more Reader's Workshop tools here

Master List: Reader's Workshop Tools

Here you will find links to tools and resources which can be used with Reader's Workshop

This list will be regularly updated

Letter to Students About Reader's Workshop
Bookmarks: We Read To
Bookmarks: Various
2009 Star Book Labels 
08/09 Star Book and Star Book Labels 
Classroom Library Tools: Keeping it Tidy and Signing Out Books

Reader's Workshop Tools: Bookmarks: We Read To

Because we've just had Christmas and it's my birthday on Tuesday, I thought I had to post another Reader's Workshop tool. One of the things which the students really enjoyed when we first began was getting their own book mark. I had some old Pokemon ones which I shared with them, but this year I think I'll begin with some nice laminated ones which will last a little longer.

Something like these: Bookmarks (PDF)

You should be able to cut them out, stick front and back together and then laminate. Enjoy!

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Reader's Workshop Tools: Sample Letter to Students

I've had so much fun launching my website today, that I wanted to try something else! I won't be posting on Friday due to Christmas, so I put together a Reader's Workshop resource as an early holiday present.

Reader's Workshop Letter to Students - PDF
Reader's Workshop Letter to Students - Doc

These letters (which are the same) include a brief description of Reader's Workshop and a list of questions students can ask themselves about what they are reading.


Please feel free to use these letters in your classroom as much as you like, but please don't repost them on the internet as your own.

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