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Reading is such an integral part of first grade! Not only is first grade when students progress through the most reading levels, it's vital in establishing a love of reading! In order to instill this passion in my students, my goal was to create a safe, comfortable and most importantly, an inviting space for my students. Each year, it's clear the library is their favorite spot in the classroom!
BOOK BINS FOR YOUR LIBRARY
Book bins have been by far the biggest investment in my classroom! My second year of teaching, I chose a color scheme (brights on black) and decided to invest in a significant number of bins and I couldn't be happier! Since that year, I now have bins with all the same colors. I know how pricey they can be and how much it can add up, but I truly believe a well organized library makes such a statement in your classroom! My advice to everyone is when you find a color and style that you like, buy in bulk!
Really Good Stuff is home to some of the most durable bins! Not only do they have a variety of colors, they have many styles and sizes to suit your needs. The specific title of the larger Really Good Stuff bins used in my classroom are the "Book Baskets, Large Rectangle With Label Holders - 5-Pack Neon." I also use the "Durable Book And Binder Holders With Universal Label Holders - 5-Pack Neon " tall book bins, turned backwards. This particular style is good for maximizing space, while maintaing a clean and organized look.
In attempt to add a budget friendly element to my space, I purchased a large number of book bins from Dollar Tree. Unfortunately the colors and specific style I use in my library are currently no longer sold. Dollar Tree does tend to switch the color schemes and styles pretty frequently so I recommending checking their website on a consistent basis. As of now, their "Colorful Square Slotted Locker Bins with Handles" are closely match to my style and color scheme. However, they are significantly larger and more square than those seen in the picture.
FURNITURE FOR YOUR LIBRARY
The next most important investment would be your shelving. It allows your books bins to appear neat and organized. I suggest white to make your color scheme really pop! The two larger white shelving pieces in my library happened to be in my classroom when I started teaching at my school. I truly believe they are hand built shelves from many years back that I painted white. However, I have had to add additional furniture to accommodate my growing library.
When shopping around I found two options that I loved. I have purchased white shelving from Amazon that you can find here, as well as a similar model from Walmart. The Amazon shelving price was teacher budget friendly and includes a 2 or 3 shelf option, allowing you to adjust it to the height of your choice. This was perfect when accommodating to different book bin sizes.
BOOK BIN LABELS FOR YOUR LIBRARY
Now that you're familiar with suggestions for where to purchase your book bins and shelving, you'll need gorgeous labels to jazz things up! Many of you have already asked me where I have purchased the book bin labels seen in many of my Instagram posts. You can find the library labels in Maria Gavin's store here on Teachers Pay Teachers. She is the genius behind Kinder Craze. It includes themed, seasonal, leveled (DRA, AR and Guided Reading) and editable labels in your choice of black or white. The product details in her store include an in depth explanation for how to customize labels and download matching fonts. Maria is so professional and so thorough that any product you purchase from her will be amazing!
I strongly encourage you to print the tables on white cardstock and laminate them for extra durability. This will prevent the edges from curling or fraying. You can find the cardstock that I used here on Amazon. It includes 250 pages for only $10!
If you haven't already treated yourself to a personal laminator, I highly recommend it! It's perfect for finalizing projects like this! I use a Scotch laminator that you can find on Amazon here for only $29, which also includes 20 bonus laminating pouches. The package of 100 or 200 Scotch laminating pouches have been at an all time low this summer. Check out their new low prices here to stock up!
Maria has shared that she uses hot glue to attach the laminated labels to the plastic bins. The hot glue does not melt the bin and is easy to peel off in the future incase you need to change the label.
As if Maria's labels weren't perfect enough, there's also an extra special feature!! It includes a sticker template for each book bin label to print on Avery labels and place on the books in that bin. The picture on the sticker matches the picture on the bin label. This allows for continued organization all year long for both students and teachers. Her template is set up to print on Avery 5160 labels that you can find here on Amazon.
I hope I was able to answer all of your questions and inspire you to begin shopping for your own library. If I happened to miss something, please feel free to comment with any questions below. Happy shopping! :)
