Create a Classroom Environment that Promotes Literacy

Classroom Library
Your classroom library should be extensive, but organized.  It is smart to have books labeled by genre, or level.  You should have some books displayed by cover as well.  These books could be things that fit with the topic you are currently studying or books that would be of interest to the students in your classroom.

Book Crates

A great organization tool is colored book crates.  These crates are the perfect size for children’s book and can fit nicely next to each other on the book shelves.  Each crate can be labeled with the genre of books that it holds.  You could even use the crates in a different way by having each student have their own book crate.  Their book crate can be filled with books that they are in the process of reading or want to read in the future.

Book Highlights
It is nice to have a specified spot in the room or school that is dedicated to books that students want to highlight or suggest to other students.  This area can also be dedicated to books that are great for a certain topic you are studying.  Award winning books should be placed on this book shelf as well.  It is important for students to have a choice in what to read, but they need to be shown quality literature.

Reading Area

The area devoted to student reading time should be a comfortable place, in which students can settle in to read independently.  The book library should be nearby, and the reading are should be separate from the work area in the room.

Writing Area

This area should be full of supplies for writing workshop.  There should be plenty of rough draft paper, pencils, markers, writing folders, and writing journals.  The walls in the writing area can have posters with writing tips or mini lessons ideas.  Depending on the grade level you can include the alphabet, transition words, or story starters.

Posters

Posters around the room can act as reminders to students as they are reading and writing.  They can be used for management as well to keep students organized with what they should be working on.  Posters can also be student made, where students work is put on display.  Another creative idea is to take pictures of all the students and have them each create a poster with a reading or writing tip.

Word Wall

Word walls can be used at any grade level for any topic.  Many times teachers use them to display vocabulary or spelling words that the students need to practice.  Word walls should contain words that need to become a part of the student’s vocabulary and should be mastered.  The words can be alphabetized or hung up at random, but they need to be big enough for students to read from their seats. 

Digital Literacies

Learning how to read and write has a lot of new changes.  These “new literacies” consist or new technologies that incorporate reading and writing with digital mediums.  Students now need to learn how to read and write appropriately online.  They need to know how to navigate through web pages, and determine which websites they read are reliable and which are not.  The world is turning its focus to technology and we cannot just turn a blind eye to using it in the classroom.  We must embrace it in order for our students to succeed in our changing world.