I'm so excited to link up for the first time this summer with
4th Grade Frolics for #MondayMadeIt! You read about 2 weeks ago about how I'd like to level my classroom library this summer as my big summer project.
I've been slowly working on it... and by "slowly working on it" I mean that I've been researching and trying to figure out the best course of action for storing my books.
A few weeks ago I came across a blog post that shared this photo:
After deciding on what I wanted to do with my classroom library, I wanted to give this idea a shot before spending tens or hundreds of dollars on book storage. So last week when I dropped off a package for my husband, I grabbed 12 medium boxes from the post office.
I was super excited because I had such high hopes.
I used crazy glue and Elmer's cement glue to glue the box together. I didn't want to tape it because I didn't want the tape to show if I decided to paint the box or modge podge it.
So I glued it. I drew lines. I used a box cutter to cut it up...
...and it looks fantastic sitting on my office bookshelf. But my goodness was it ever a piece of work. It took me about 15-20 minutes to assemble and cut one of the boxes. Not too long, but just long enough. Long enough for what you're probably thinking.
Long enough for me to order
40 magazine file boxes from Amazon. Yep. I did. I ordered boxes.
But I wouldn't call this a complete Pinterest fail. The medium post office boxes are a great size, are made of super sturdy cardboard, and definitely will hold up over time. So I might take a day to finish the remaining 11 of them. But for now I'm going to make book tags for the boxes I ordered.
How do you store your classroom library books? and how do you have your classroom library organized?
I stored mine in Dollar Tree baskets that coordinated with my room colors. I used the boxes you ordered for my student's book boxes (mine came from Ikea). They kept the books they were reading for read to self time in them. I was able to get two years usage out of them by adding a decorative band of duct tape around the bottom to help hold it together. Tara offered free numbers in a circle shape a couple of summers ago and I attached that to the front of the box instead of putting names which allowed me to use the boxes again. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteTonya
Storybook Endings in Second
Sometimes you can learn a lot from what might look to others like a "Pinterest Fail"! My book storage ideas are almost identical to Tonya's above, but I got my boxes from a wedding supply site, after seeing the ones that my daughter used for "hotel room goodies" for the overnight guests. They were super sturdy and held up for four years! Long ago, I remember reading that people were making book boxes from heavy cardboard detergent boxes. I've been using liquid deteregent so long now that I'm not even sure detergent comes as a powder anymore! :)
ReplyDeleteLinda at Primary Inspiration
I store all of my classroom library books in bins for Dollar Tree or IKEA. My students use the IKEA book bins like the ones you ordered from Amazon. I hope that you are able to find something useful to do with your boxes!
ReplyDeleteMrs. 3rd Grade
LOVE it! Thanks for keeping it real. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the honesty !
ReplyDelete