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We are an AR school, but anyone could use this to sort books. we code by levels w/colored dots-red for k level, orange for 1st, yellow for 2nd, etc. Like colors are on the shelf together. This is schoolwide, including
the library. I also group books in baskets on a shelves by series and sometimes by author. My kids really get into wanting to read ALL the Junie B. books or Magic Tree house or whatever, and it is easier for them to find them in one basket as the AR levels vary a little within series. I have HUNDREDS of books in my room. The kids are pretty good about reshelving correctly, but I have

2 designated "librarians" that tidy up every few days. Oh, I also keep my nonfiction books separate, coded with an extra sticker(not a color used for the AR books) so the kids can find them easier.

Another idea that has worked REALLY well for me is in spelling. I give my pretest on Monday--before the kids have seen the words. I usually have at least one or 2 100s. Those who make 100 don't have to do spelling at all that week. The others do a worksheet that came with our series on Tuesday. The rest of the week they do a contract of activities. Their grade is determined by how many they complete--to get 100 they must do 8. These activities are everything from writing their words in the air with a ribbon, to painting them on the board w/water to forming them with yarn and glue on construction paper. On Friday they take the final test, including 3 sentences. The children make up their own sentences with a few rules--All sentences must be at least 5 words long, including at least one spelling word; only one sentence may begin with the word I; ALL words must be spelled correctly for credit. The kids look forward to spelling time, and I have seen a tremendous increase in the number of times the kids will point out spelling words they recognize in their reading.

The biggest area of concern for me right now is parent communication. I don't particularly like preprinted homework assignment sheets. I prefer to make the kids responsible. Besides I hardly assign any homework. I don't do homework for the sake of doing homework. I assign reading nightly, and studying spelling words if they missed any on the pretest, and incomplete classwork. That's pretty much it. But we have a hard time with parents who do their children's homework, and parents who sign assignment sheets or whatever even when the child didn't do the work. AAAuuggh!! this is a pet peeve of mine. THen there is the mountain of notes we sent home, only to be told, "I didn"t know anything about that"! Our principal purchased really cool vinyl folders for the kids with printed pockets that say Keep at Home, and Return to School. Unless I personally go around and place the papers in the pockets for the kids, have of mine just stuff and go. Parents do not ask their children if they have notes etc. for them.