Classroom Libraries & Leveling

Classroom libraries are always hot mess, period. See the pic -- accurate to how my school library feels sometimes. I don't know a single teacher who doesn't bemoan the process of keeping their classroom library stocked, organized, and properly leveled. (No matter how many times you buy the Wimpy Kid books, you'll never end the year with them...)

BUT, it doesn't have to be this way! Want to automate your systems for next year and level quickly? Check out the following apps and services below! 

CLASSROOM LIBRARY CHECKOUTS

BookSource Classroom Organizer (web, iOS, Android): For the teachers who are jealous of librarians with a scanning system! Paired with a cheap barcode scanner, the BSCO web service and phone app "allows users to maintain and inventory books and eBooks in their classroom library." I have a colleague in 2nd grade who already uses it, and we're adding it to our leveled book room next year, because teachers can check out items right from their phone. I highly recommend it! 

Delicious Library (iOS): For the Mac/iPad teachers, this personal library app may also be very helpful in the classroom - especially if you're trying to see the total value of what your library is worth or want to integrate your iTunes account. 

GoodReads (web, iOS, Android): Full disclosure - I'm personally addicted to GR, see the sidebar. However, social media apps like GR, Shelfari, and LibraryThing can serve an excellent role in the connected classroom, because you can use the tags to catalog your classroom library. You can even have students create a tag of their own name and tag a book when they read it, or add reviews through comments. 

LEVELING

The Book Leveler App (iOS): Here's an iPhone app to help teachers do summer leveling on Guided Reading, or may be helpful to share with parents who frequently take their children to the library. 

Scholastic Book Wizard (web): An old go-to. This service has improved over the years to include Lexile and DRA a well as Guided Reading, but it's limited to only titles offered by Scholastic. 


Have a favorite leveling app or classroom library suggestion? Leave it in the comments!