I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place... I apologize if this belongs somewhere else! Throughout the years I have accumulated A LOT of children's books, including read alouds and chapter books. I have bought a lot of materials to use in the classroom from per diem substitute teaching, maternity leaves, and a per diem teaching position. The biggest problem with this is that at the end of the year I have to bring it ALLL back home lol. Storage has really become an issue. I was curious if anyone else is in this situation, and how they store/organize their things, particularly their books. I started a database on excel so I can keep track of the books I have, but I need to find containers that I can keep them in, and use the database to keep track of what books are where. Any advice? Thanks!
I guess I'm the only sub with too much school stuff lol. And somehow, despite the fact that I KNOW I have too much, I go on vacation and end up buying ANOTHER book! oy....:lol:
Yeah, I don't buy anything to bring with me. The teacher knows the kids better than I do anyway. And either the kids are young enough to want to hear stories about my cat who thinks she's Spider-Man or they want to just talk in any free time.
Well the reason why I ended up with so many is that when I did the last maternity leave the teacher barely had anything. I ended up ordering a lot through the scholastic bonus points I obtained from the kids ordering (she didn't do scholastic either!) just to give them books to read in the classroom library (I had kept separate bins for my books vs hers). Then last year I did a per diem push in teaching position, so I ended up acquiring a lot then too.
I am a full time teacher, but have switched grade levels so many times that many of my books don't apply to my current teaching position. I have to keep many at home, which works out okay for some for my children, but others are for older students. I buy the medium sized totes (usually at Walmart) and number them. I sort most of my books by grade level (primary, intermediate, middle, high). Then I place them into the bins, each with a number. I type a list of what is in each bin and tape it onto the lid of the bin as well as save it on my computer. This way, I can find something if I want to use it in my classroom or with one of my children.
Well I'm not subbing anymore, but I also have the buying too many books problem, and those boxes that paper comes in are just the right size for storing books and hauling them around. And may I tactfully suggest that you whittle them down b/c maybe you have too many?
Lol I do agree, there are too many. It's a problem of mine. But during the school year so many of them really have come in handy. It's just the summer when they all have to come back to my room that kills me!
I have the buying too many books problem too ( I have over 500...I have had to sacrifice dresser drawers to the cause) They are pretty evenly divided between History NF, YA fiction and Adult fiction. I'm probably going to catalog the NF books using LCC numbers (I've worked in libraries for years). I haven't decided between Excel or book cataloging software. And I've used a ton of these books for reference or for teaching so I don't want to part with them. (and I want a library in my house one day ) I will be getting more bookshelves soon, but in the meantime I'm resorting to plastic storage bins and my dresser drawers....
