[CASL-L] Lower elementary nonfiction organization

[Laura Hedenberg]

Hi.  I teach PK-6 and I've been changing up my library for the last 10
years!  I try to make changes based on how my students browse and what they
like.
So, most of my nonfiction, early chapter and picture books are in bins.  My
chapter books are genrified into 9 categories.  I also moved some
nonfiction to different parts of the library, including Fairy Tales to
picture books, Maker Space books/how to to a maker area, Graphic Novels
have their own (large) space and all holiday books are together.

My nonfiction section is Dewey"ish".  I use whole number Dewey and have
moved books around so they are altogether.  For example, all  military is
in the 300s.  I have a lot of signage that includes pictures so it's easier
for the youngest students, I still teach how to find books with Dewey, but
encourage students to look at the posters and signs to find what they're
looking for.

I don't have a para either so I understand about the independence piece.
At the beginning of the year, I have K and 1 pick books and sit on the rug
and wait for check out so I can work with students to find books.  I also
stop check out and have students wait if someone needs me to help them with
a book.  I also have students help each other, they love that.

Laura

On Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM Jud, Brian <bjud at hamden.org> wrote:

> Hi everyone!
>
> Question for elementary librarians (I'm at a K-6 school):
> Does anybody have suggestions for how to organize lower elementary (K-2)
> nonfiction? At my last school library, we had full Dewey nonfiction
> sections for "easy" and "regular," but now at my current library, I
> inherited categorized bins (Jobs, Animals, Space, etc.). I'm afraid the
> categorized bins are too much like a classroom library and not a library
> proper, but I still like the idea of somewhat genrefying nonfiction for the
> littler kiddos to help them independently find high-interest nonfiction
> books as easily as possible without having to massively ramp up teaching
> "just right books" (which I do address) and/or Dewey (which is more a
> grades 3-6 focus). As you all can imagine, checking out books during class
> without the luxury of a library para makes it hard for me to be with
> students as they browse, so independence for the kids who don't necessarily
> know Dewey or who cannot easily recognize books that are around their
> reading level.
>
> I'd love to hear how you all organize your "easy" nonfiction so that it's
> more than a classroom library but still a little more adaptive and
> transitional for the younger kids. (And yes, I will absolutely continue
> teaching "just right" strategies, so please don't think I'm trying to avoid
> that!)
>
> --
> Thank you,
>
> Mr. Brian Jud
> Library Media Specialist
> Spring Glen School
>
> Current reads:
> Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3978357-brian
> Storygraph profile: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/b_jud
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-- 
Laura Hedenberg
*Library Media Specialist*
*Barkhamsted School*
*"By not running from the books that pain us, we can allow them to
transform us."  Dr.  Ibram X. Kendi*





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