Idea by Laura, a 4th Grade Teacher, in the APO Armed Forces.

I use inquiry to help students understand book genres while also providing a method for organizing my classroom library.  Here’s how: I provide small groups of students with a short stack of books and a classification chart featuring book genre definitions. I have students work together to discuss and classify each book.

Once done, I have another student group provide “quality control” by deciding if they agree with the classification or if adjustments should be made. I then have students label, box or shelve the books in an organized fashion. Because my students are instrumental in establishing my book organizational system, they are more apt to take advantage of it and maintain it when locating, borrowing, and returning books in the months that follow.

This article was featured in the July edition of the Classroom Connections Newsletter.  Read more great articles from that edition below and sign-up now to receive the newsletter in your inbox each month.

Taming the Paper Monster

Student-Designed Displays

Brush Up Your Bulletin Boards

Divide and Conquer

Genre Lessons Help Organize Books

There’s an App for That!

Visual Center Solutions

Learning Station Success

Rack and Roll Your Center Supplies

Top Drawer Supply Sorter

Beep! Beep! School Bus Storage

X Marks the Spot

A Place for Everything

Tool Cups

Clear the Deck

Spin City