Chevron Anyone?

So by popular demand, I created a "chevron" themed classroom decor set.  It is "rainbow" chevron so it will surely brighten up any classroom!   I like it so much, I think I might use it in my room!
Check it out HERE and download the preview for some freebies!

I added some leveled book labels for book bins in this set and then I got to thinking about leveling student texts.  Is it really such a great idea to level all of your books if you are a classroom teacher?  I'm not a classroom teacher.  I am a Reading Specialist so the books that I have leveled are my leveled text sets that I use for guided reading.  The bins the students choose from to take home to read nightly contain a mixture of levels, levels that the students have no idea what they mean - I use the EIL (Early Intervention levels) with DRA levels as well.   

When I was a classroom teacher, I had a zip disk (yes, I'm showing my age here) that contained the levels of my entire classroom library.  (Sad to think that all those books are still all packed away in the basement at the farm.  5 plastic tubs of books.  Does anyone need some?  I'm willing to give them to a good home if you come and pick them up! They are for 1st/2nd/3rd graders.)

Do you level your library so that the students can see/know their level? 

I never did.  Why?  Because I felt that it could discourage students from seeking more challenging texts about topics of interest to them. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see some of the kinds of books students will struggle through because they find them so engaging.  I had a student, a struggling reader, who just loved these Mercy Watson books.  Word by word, she pushed herself through each and every book in the series.  And guess what?  She pushed herself so hard, she made so much progress that by the end of that school year she was considered to be on grade level.  A miracle?  No.  She had the will, the want to do well.  She was engaged and excited about these books.  With struggling readers, engagement and excitement is usually half the battle.

How do you feel about leveling your classroom library?

Thanks for Reading!

~*Gina*~