Page 32 - Reading Nest - The Supportive Literacy Environment Handbook

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The role of physical environment in the development of literacy has been widely

researched. It has been found that smaller, well-defined bookshelves and corners
with books encourage children to communicate with each other on literacy and book

topics and collaborate with peers. International assessment indicators also express
the importance of dividing a room into activity centres.

Based on these indicators literacy can be supported by fitting a reading centre and a
writing centre. The first would be equipped with books which are varied, appropriate

for age, number and interests of children, the latter would come with resources for

writing (lettering samples, paper, pencils, worksheets, etc.). The reading nest is a
centre with features of both the reading and writing centres, certainly, a classroom

may contain two nests or centres – one for more relaxed reading and browsing books,
and the other primarily for writing. Perhaps even a third one for performances and

role plays, all dependent on children's interests, topics, condition of rooms. Various
centres can further be added, removed or redesigned but there needs to be one main

reading nest in the classroom.