From: Sarah Mulhern <evil_twin2327_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:15:17 -0800 (PST)

I can only speak for myself and the teachers I know, but I certainly read r eviews. В I am busy, but I read blogs, SLJ, Horn Book, etc. В I als o read constantly myself. В That's why teachers need a classroom librar y. В As someone said in a previous message, it keeps teachers reading a nd helps them stay on top of current children's/YA lit. В I think teacher recommendations can be great whether they come back from a conference and share them or just chat with their kids about what they have read recently. В Teachers are certainly capable of placing books in th eir classroom library that are appropriate for their particular students. В They can and do read reviews, mock Newbery lists, and much more. В Certainly, that is not every teacher, but it is true for many of them. В And those who read that information share it with other teachers. I'm not sure I understand why having donated books in a classroom library w ould not be considered a good idea. В Does my library span a wide readi ng-leve l/age-range? В Absolutely.В В As I stated in a previous response, my former librarian was only perm itted to add specific grade levels and reading levels to her library. В If my students were reading above those levels or below them, they were out of luck. В That's where the classroom library played its part. В The parents in my classes always signed a permission slip allowing their children to borrow books from the classroom. В In that permission slip I stated that my books spanned a wide range of age levels and what might b e appropriate for one child might not be right for another. В Parents s igned that they would be aware of their child's book choices and I would ha ppily help them find a different book if they were unhappy with a selection . В In five years of teaching middle school, I had no complaints. Not o ne. В Students are more than capable of self-censoring, and parents did a great job, too. В I had middle grade books, YA books, etc. В Of course, there were some books I did not elect to place in my library (for example, Green's LOOKING FOR ALASKA) . I read the book myself and though I loved it, I determined it did not fit my students' needs. В Any self-respecting teacher should and would do the same. Again, I do not understand why this has to be an either/or. В Classroom libraries and school libraries are both vital elements of a reader's life in school. В There is research that backs this up. В Teachers and l ibrarians should work together to provide the best variety of books for the ir readers. Sarah Mulhern Grossthereadingzone.wordpress.com


--- On Thu, 2/10/11, CARPENTER, JEFFREY J w

rote: One of the concerns I have is how the classroom teacher selects books to ad d to their collection.В  How can they have time to read the reviews?В Teacher recommendations can be great when they come back from professio nal conferences and actually add to the school's collection in the library. Some titles being added to the classroom library are donated books, and in some cases aren't even age appropriate.В  The Scholastic books arenв Ђ™t as good as they once were.

Thanks, Jeff
Received on Fri 11 Feb 2011 07:15:17 AM CST