[CASL-L] Leveling books in a middle school library

[Norton, Keely]

Lauren, I couldn't have said it better myself! Agree 100%

Keely Norton
Library Media Specialist
Scofield Magnet Middle School
203-977-2754
"Work hard. Be kind."
________________________________
From: CASL-L [casl-l-bounces at mylist.net] on behalf of Lauren Hunt [huntla at danbury.k12.ct.us]
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2018 10:32 AM
To: Michele Lane
Cc: CASL_L
Subject: Re: [CASL-L] Leveling books in a middle school library

Hi Michele,

I personally would be against this for a few different reasons. The media center should be a place where students have free choice. If you are labeling the books, it creates an atmosphere where a student may feel obligated to take certain levels of books. Or, if a student is reading at a lower level than their peers, checking out a lower leveled book that is labeled may create social anxiety. Also, students should be applying their just-right book skills. If the books are labeled for them, some students who are always given leveled books may not have the opportunity to practice this skill on books that have not been leveled. I would consider this to be a real-world skill, as books at the public library are not leveled.

I understand why reading teachers/specialists would want a library collection to be leveled. However, the library is a place for students to have freedom. I personally wouldn't want to do anything to hinder that.

Just my thoughts!
Lauren

On Mon, Apr 30, 2018 at 10:22 AM, Michele Lane <mlane at colchesterct.org<mailto:mlane at colchesterct.org>> wrote:
Good morning,

I was asked to discuss the possibility of leveling all of the books in the LMC. Using Fontas and Pinell. I am wondering if any other middle school has done this and the benefits of doing so. I have reservations about this as I do not want to limit access (or have a student perceived limited access) based on a level assigned to a book.

Any thoughts you have would be appreciated.


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--
Lauren Hunt
Library Media Specialist
Danbury Public Schools
Ellsworth Avenue Media Center<http://ellsworthmedia.weebly.com/>

“The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one which makes you think.” - Harper Lee
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