Page 8 - Reading Nest - The Supportive Literacy Environment Handbook

The Reading Nest is one its most successful projects, one which has also found international

recognition. The reading nest is a place created and furnished for purposeful reading

activities, where children can in small groups, pairs or alone study and read books, play
with the written word and create it in safe and comfortable surroundings. In essence,

reading nests are activity centres and as centres for organising the learning environment
they have gained a high profile in Estonia through the Hea Algus (Step by Step)

pedagogical methodology. The value of centres lies not only in enabling work in small
groups but also learning to make informed choices, which then facilitates the development

of a number of 21st century competences – self-regulation, enterprise, readiness for life-

long learning.

Each kindergarten or school classroom should have a reading nest, even where the rest of
the environment is designed in a traditional manner. Throughout this book where the

Reading Nest (capitalised) is used, it refers to the Association’s project.