Reading corners, book nooks, cozy corners, whichever the designation, are a unique and engaging addition to early learning classrooms. A dedicated space for reading means boundless opportunities for students to explore literature, spark individual interests and put their newly learned phonics skills to practical use.
Like other aspects of classrooms, reading corners need to be functional, practical, and attractive to students. Reading corners are also a conduit for individual teacher expression with various combinations of classroom furniture, seating, carpets, and book displays. Below, we've compiled some helpful insights and information about how to create and outfit a fantastic reading corner for your early-learning classrooms.
What to know about reading corners and early learning students
Early learning classrooms are the gateway to developing so many important academic and life skills in students. Developing language processing skills, associations, and creative thinking only scratches the surface regarding the benefits of reading corners.
A Peter Barrett study determined that “well-defined” learning zones, including reading corners, can improve student learning progress by as much as 16% every year.
A ResearchGate study found that young learners feel a strong sense of belonging to their classroom reading corners, especially when they're involved in its creation.
Research for Pleasure shared that a supportive, social reading environment, like a reading corner in the classroom, will help to support reciprocal reading.
Common benefits of reading corners for young students
Young students benefit from reading in various ways, and reading corners are designated spaces dedicated to maximizing those benefits in the classroom. Some common benefits of reading and reading corners for students include:
Develops independent attention and concentration skills
Encourages vocabulary, memory, and reasoning development
Helps develop emotional awareness and regulation
Allows students to have a dedicated space to practice their reading skills
Supports rewards or de-escalation practices
How to manage your reading corner
Managing a reading corner in your classroom keeps it interesting, engaging, and up to date throughout the school year. Some best practices for managing your classroom's reading corner include keeping the space calm, inviting, and organized through varied means.
Keeping the reading corner space easy to navigate for littles is a great way to start your reading corner design. Depending on the size of your space, an area rug or carpet can help designate the space as a whole or separate reading displays from reading furniture. This can also help set boundaries with students by clearly demarcating space when establishing reading corner rules. For example, a rule could be that books cannot go past the rainbow rug (or other designation). Explore some of our favorite reading nook rugs:
Consider having a larger reading area with opportunities to spread out and get comfortable on soft stools, mats, and even sofas. These soft seating options are popular among today's reading nooks:
Easily accessible displays allow you to rotate books and literature to match your coursework, class discussions, seasons, or holidays. It also allows students to interact with the books more, encouraging independence and choices. Find displays and reading nook shelving for any sized space with us!
Explore classroom shelving solutions.
Explore rolling storage cabinets for flexibility in the classroom.
Explore early learning reading corner cubbies.
Explore wall-hanging and wall-mount storage solutions.
Explore book displays, perfect for early learners.
Setting reading corner guidelines for early learners
Reading corner guidelines for early learners is a fantastic way to help develop responsibility in students. Tidying up after reading, rearranging furniture, and even helping to “vacuum” a rug are all practical skills that foster a sense of stewardship and care for a space. The more students are involved in the care of their classrooms and spaces, the more they connect with the space and its materials.
Younger children may benefit from specific reading tables or furniture, which can help keep your books less rough-and-tumble after a hectic school year. Older children may benefit from a rudimentary check-out system for books, which can also track classroom reading engagement.
How to enhance learning for young readers
You can enhance learning for young readers differently, depending on your space and how your young readers interact with their environment. A great way to start is by creating a cohesive theme to structure your choice of reading corner furniture or decor. Nature-themed furniture is a lovely and calm theme to adopt while staying neutral enough that it likely won't be a source of overstimulation.
Best classroom management strategies for your early learning reading corner
Your early learning reading corner will be an exciting and lovely area for your students to relax, learn organically, and explore new-found interests. Management strategies for reading corners are a good way to keep expectations of students consistent while preserving any new equipment or resources your reading corner may have.
Establish clear expectations with your students about how the reading corner will be accessed and cared for. For younger kindergarten or first-grade students, this may look like incorporating the reading corner into the daily routine; for those a little older, this may look like a posted set of rules or reminders.
Include how you will monitor students' care for their classroom's reading corner. This may look like tidying the corner each day, checking for books that are off the shelves, or having spots to line furniture back up with that students may have moved while interacting with the space.
Consider incorporating a specific transition for reading corner time, such as a timer, song, or alarm. This can help students establish a routine that builds excitement for reading corner time and signals that cleaning up will happen soon.
Use the reading corner to build relationships with your students. Provide positive feedback on how they're interacting with the space, how students may be using their new reading skills, or checking in if you see signs of frustration. Reading corners are great for organic interactions and can also spark a student's drive to problem-solve small challenges.
Reading corner designs and layouts to know
Reading corners can be established in so many designs and with so many school furniture options, themes, or color schemes. It's a great medium for you to add in creative touches and to make your classroom even more of your own.
For younger students, brighter colors may be what you're looking for. They will serve as a fun, fresh space for little minds to explore and have a positive experience with language and reading. Furniture options and themes for cozy reading corners can be different from the rest of the classroom, or a cohesive extension.
Hub-and-spoke classrooms have a layout that makes it easy to incorporate a reading corner or book nook. This design is popular with preschool and kindergarten ages. Early elementary classrooms start to have a little less centrality to them but nonetheless can still support a solid reading corner. Spaces begin to be more demarcated from each other, and at this age, softer furniture and some larger shelving products are useful.
School Outfitters has all the best reading corner furnishings you need
School Outfitters has the perfect furnishings for your future reading corner plans, or individual pieces to add to an already existing corner. Language development and early learning literacy are vital skills for young students to develop, and a cozy reading corner helps them find joy and comfort in exploring these essential skill sets.
We have knowledgeable furniture experts ready to provide you with guidance and recommendations on how to best set up your classroom's reading corner based on budget, goals, or vision. Start here and receive a quote in 24 hours!
