Materials Descriptions for 8th Grade Literacy Center

General Description of Our Library

Our classroom library will have over 850 books. To achieve a sense of balance for all
our of readers, the collection is divided equally into fiction at grade level (25%), fiction below
grade-level (25%), nonfiction at grade level (25%), and nonfiction below grade level (25%).
There are also 10 different genres represented with enough books in each genre for the teacher
to conduct whole class genre studies. There are 250 popular or bestselling fiction or nonfiction
books at grade-level, and 250 popular or bestselling fiction or nonfiction below grade-level. The
remaining 350 books are divided equally between Fountas and Pinnell levels U-Z+ into different
genres and set aside for guided reading.
Fiction At Grade Level
Each of these books is leveled at 5.3 or above by (Accelerated Reader). The list was
designed to cover both new and classic young adult novels. It was also constructed with the
goal of providing books that might both be typically considered boy and girl interest books. If
possible, the entire series from an author is provided for continuity.
Fiction Below Grade Level
Each of the books on this list are below a Z Fountas and Pinnell reading level, with
lexiles below 805L. All of the books chosen were commonly used among students in middle
school grades and are of high interest to students in the 8th grade. There are a variety of genres
on this list, including science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction, mystery, fantasy, and
drama.
Nonfiction At Grade Level
Each of these books is either Z or Z+ Fountas and Pinnell reading level, with lexiles
ranging from 805L to 1100L. All books chosen recieved a minimum of 4 out of 5 stars on
Amazon.com. Many of the books chosen come from YALSAs Nonfiction award winners (Young
Adult Library Services Association). Also, many of the books that feature a particular topic in
social studies or science were chosen because those topics align with the 8th grade Common
Core state standards (as recommended on booksource.com).

Nonfiction Below Grade Level

The goal of the creation of the NF below level set was to create various ways in which
the teacher can group students. For example, the first set allows for teacher to create four
groups with 5-8 students reading a book. The final sets, also below grade level, allow the
teacher to pull back their groups to 4, 3, or 2 students. There is also one full set will allow
students to choose an individual book of their own instead of reading in groups.
Leveled Reader Texts for Guided Reading
This set of leveled books come from 8 different genres (biographies, fantasy/science
fiction, historical fiction, poetry, informational science, informational social studies, realistic
fiction, traditional/classic literature). There are 4 titles below grade level that range from level U
to level Y in each genre, and 4 titles at or above grade level that range from level Z to Z+ .
Additionally, titles within each Fountas and Pinnell letter have a range of lexiles to further
differentiate among student ability levels. All books chosen received a minimum of 4 out of 5
stars on Amazon.com and most are written by popular authors for this age group. By having 8
different genres covered, teachers can focus on teaching specific reading skills and signposts
for each genre to the whole class, saving precious time in guided reading groups. There are
five copies of each title in each genre at each level, so groups will be made of about 4 students
each. All non-fiction topics align with 8th grade content-area Common Core standards and
suggested topics (as recommended on booksource.com).
Technology
If all students and all teachers have unlimited ability to create and communicate - and to
do so all in one place - then the technology can be more streamlined. For this reason, our
classroom has decided to provide 1 to 1 with MacBook Airs. With a sufficient school-wide
internet system, each student can complete assignments, take notes, study, and even complete
state mandated testing all in one place. There is little way around students being required to
type as their new form of handwriting. Speech to text (while convenient) cannot and should
not be the preferred method. Computers, and owning their own computer should be the
norm for every student in our classroom.
Professional Development Materials
We have purchased many best selling teacher practice books in the field of literacy with
the hopes of being able to read them in PLCs with our staff. These books are written by the
gurus of reading and writing in the middle (including Calkins, Atwell, Gallagher, Beers, Lane,
Kittle, Tovanni, etc). We have also subscribed to several professional journals in the area of
teaching reading including NCTE and JAAL as well as The Reading Teacher.
Professional Development Resources
The professional development opportunities listed are beneficial to all teachers. They
are in the content areas of reading and math. There are also some conferences on special
education pertaining to Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disabilities. All teachers should

attend at least one special education conference in order to learn strategies that can help them
with instructing and understanding special education students.
Magazine Subscriptions
The magazine subscriptions include a variety of genres including Science, Math,
Language Arts, Social Studies, Current Events, Sports, Life Skills, Spanish, Reading
Intervention, Art, and American History. By including all of these genres, teachers can focus on
teaching specific reading skills within each content area. Each of these magazines comes with
easy-to-use, step-by-step lessons for teachers and most of these magazines are aligned with
the Common Core Standards. For an additional cost, the school has the option of purchasing
the online versions of these magazines, which include videos, digital articles, multiple choice
and constructed-response quizzes, skill building activities, guided essay writing, audio and
differentiation, printables, teacher tips, interactive games, blogs and student iPad app.
Furniture and Accessories
Furniture in the classroom should be comfortable and inviting to students. The furniture
in the reading section was chosen so that students can feel free to discuss and share what they
are reading with others around them. The floor lamps are there so that students can adjust the
lighting to their liking. The rug is available for students to lie on the floor and enjoy reading their
book. The curtains are there to cover the light and make the area visually stimulating.
Motivational pictures are around the classroom to encourage students to persevere and take
chances when answering questions asked by the teacher.
Reading and Writing Manipulatives
The following reading and writing manipulatives are meant to cater to the multiple
learning styles while engaging students by making learning fun. They provide the students with
auditory, visual, and tactile methods to understand new concepts in reading and writing. These
manipulatives are meant to boost their achievement and confidence. Each of the
manipulatives/games was carefully chosen to meet the specific skill standards of 8th graders.
Important Supplies for Literacy Center
The supplies for the class are items to help students be successful in class and address
their social/emotional needs. The 2 hamsters in the class are used for pet therapy. They will
help reduce stress in the classroom. The snacks are used to help students bond with each
other and relax. The Netflix account will be used to watch movies or snippets of movies for
educational purposes. The iTunes account will be used to download music for the class. The
music will be used when transitioning and when students need a few minutes for a break. The
READ 180 Program will be used to help students with learning and practicing reading. The
majority of the items are needed to make the learning process visible, easier, and enjoyable.