Mrs. Bernal's Content Library

I love books. I have always loved books. It only stands to reason that I would want them in my classroom, doesn't it?

Most of my experiences with classroom libraries have been in elementary classrooms or middle grade reading/LA classrooms. Once I reached high school, my teachers had personal libraries, and sets of books for us to use during certain units, but no classroom libraries. This is a shame, because the books teachers(especially English teachers) bring into the classroom can be often be more unique and even more easily accessible to what you would find in the school library.

One of my favorite classroom library experiences was in the classroom of a (male) 4th grade Math/Science teacher. His entire back shelf was filled with books, and while they were mostly related to math or science, he also had his own library of leveled fiction books. I remember being in awe the first time I saw that shelf. I asked him why he had so many books, even though he taught only math and science. He told me that reading was important in all content areas, and because his students were ELLs, it was especially important for them. I didn't understand at the time(I probably thought something like, yeah, in elementary school!), but having been through more schooling, I see now the benefits of this practice in all classrooms.

In my own classroom, I want that same variety. I plan to have more math-related books in each genre, but I want fiction books too, and books that are not immediately connected to mathematics. Some of the books I intend to add to my own classroom library are:

1. The Sir Cumference book series
2. The Physics of Superheroes
3. The Physics of Everyday Things
4. The Math Book: 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics
5. Of Course! A collection of riddles and brain teasers

You'll notice that not all of these books are strictly math books, but the ones I listed are all related to math in some way. I chose physics books because physics is so math-intensive, for instance. If students become interested in physics, they must must must learn mathematics. I also chose a book of riddles and brain teasers. Brain teasers and riddles boost critical thinking skills and "stretch the brain," so to speak. They activate the parts of the brain needed for mathematics learning. 

Reading is extremely important for all types of students, and in the math classroom, I think we can really go a long way by providing books to students that will generate interest in learning and challenge them in meaningful ways.