As a teacher, I prided myself on having a well-stocked and diverse classroom library. I believed it was essential to foster a love of reading in students and give them access to exciting and engaging books. However, after some careful reflection and a series of events, I decided to scrap my classroom library. Let me tell you why.
Limited Space and Resources
Despite my best efforts to keep the shelves organized, they were often cluttered, with limited space for new acquisitions. Furthermore, maintaining a classroom library can be costly as I had to replace lost or damaged books regularly.
Duplicated Efforts
My school already had a well-staffed and updated library, with thousands of titles available for students. By maintaining a separate classroom library, I was duplicating efforts, both in terms of acquiring books and keeping them well-organized.
Book Choices Became Outdated
As the curriculum evolved and shifted towards more diverse and inclusive content, my classroom library’s selection lagged behind. Not every book remained relevant or appropriate; this led to concerns about how the content might affect my students’ perceptions or understanding of various issues.
Reliance on Teacher’s Preferences
When creating a classroom library, it’s inevitable that our personal preferences influence the selection of books available. As much as we try to provide variety, we can unintentionally create a heavily curated list that may not cater to the diverse interests of our students.
Shift Towards Digital Resources
As technology progresses, schools are shifting their focus towards digital materials and resources due to their ease of access and versatility. As such, maintaining an extensive physical library ceased to be practical or sustainable.
Increased Collaboration with School Librarian
By scrapping my classroom library, I could collaborate more closely with the school librarian – an expert resource person in terms of reading levels, book genres, authors, and other curricular needs. Students now benefit from personalized recommendations that cater to their interests and abilities.
A More Productive Environment
Without the clutter of a classroom library, I was able to create a more organized and focused environment that promotes productivity. Allocating a designated space for students to read or discuss books improved the overall classroom dynamic.
In conclusion, the decision to scrap my classroom library came after much deliberation and for various reasons. Ultimately, I believe it has contributed positively to both my teaching practices and my students’ learning experiences. By utilizing existing resources, such as the school library and digital platforms, we have not only retained our love for reading but also become more effective learners.
