The Power of the Book Shelf

The bookshelf in our classroom is on wheels.  It has been pushed into a corner and was neglected over the years.  As I have been reading more and more to the students on a daily basis, I have found the bookshelf becoming a new focal point for my students.  At the end of the day, I'm finding books pulled off of shelves and left on chairs and on the floor.  One student loves to take books into our "break room" to read.  Students have started reading to other students.  The simple process of reintroducing the bookshelf and all of the magical stories it contains has enlivened the classroom and the students.  And even though many of the books are decades old, the stories and the messages they contain are still applicable today.  The "Power of the Bookshelf" is one we can all encourage and share!