Classroom Reading Corner Ideas to Inspire Young Readers
What is a reading corner? A reading corner is a designated spot in your classroom or home that promotes reading. It typically is in the corner because we want it away from noise and distraction. This is a place students can go to read and further their love of literacy.
The layout of a reading corner really lends itself to a space students want to be in because it is a cozy environment full of books. I know our reading corner in my classroom is a place students always want to be. Use these reading corner ideas below to promote a love of reading in your classroom through a cozy and inviting reading corner.
Reading Corner Idea Components
A reading corner has six main components which we will discuss below. Use these reading corner ideas to inspire you.
Variety of books
The first step is the most important which is to have plenty of books. Not just a bunch of random books but a variety of books which are highly engaging and developmentally appropriate. Book bins should include different types of animals, the solar system, fables, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, songbooks, and more.
I purposefully don’t place too many books in each book bin or in the library in general. I rotate new books every month or so. In my current classroom library, I have 23 different book bins with only about 7-12 books in each bin.
Keeping a variety of books in your reading corner is a lot different than having a lot of books. Too many books can make it hard for students to choose and to find books that they really value. Talk about analysis paralysis. I believe less is more.
I haven’t always purposefully placed less books in my library. I used to jam pack my library bins thinking that the more options I gave students, the more engaged and excited about reading they would be. The opposite was actually true. Too many books actually created disorder, a mess and students never seemed to settle into finding books or enjoy “shopping” for books. Students would randomly select books to put in their individual book bins with little interest. This was the opposite of promoting a love of reading. Therefore, remember less truly is more.
Organize Books
Having a variety of books then leads to how you organize your books. Each teacher and classroom will organize differently and I have organized mine differently throughout my teaching career. The one way I have found most impactful is organizing books by theme.
My book bins are organized by themes such as animals, ocean, solar system, fall, specific holidays coming up, etc. I used to have books organized by reading level and this was never something my students were excited about either. They were never excited to go to the classroom library and “shop” for books from their specific reading level bin.
Again, the point of a reading corner isn’t necessarily for students to be able to read every word in a book, but it is to build a love of literacy and reading.
Thinking about myself when I go to the library, I don’t select books based on my reading level. I always look for books based on themes or authors I enjoy. So I decided to create my own classroom library this way. And it has been a smash hit ever since reorganizing.
In my classroom students do research projects during our Must Do May Do literacy time. A lot of what students like to research are different types of animals. This is another reason organizing books by theme is critical because students can easily select books for their research projects. If you’re interested in learning about a Must Do May Do system in your own classroom click here.
Books on display
I think it is important for us as educators to introduce students to a variety of books and authors. One of my favorite ways to do this is to display books in the reading corner. This is similar to what you would find at a public library. These displayed books are always flying off the shelf and students are excited to get a chance to explore and read them. I typically switch out the books on display sometimes weekly but definitely every month.
A pro tip would be to highlight one theme or author each month. Books by a specific author can even be on display with a frame picture of the author.
Cozy seating
In your reading corner incorporate a lot of cozy seating. This can be small papasan chairs, wiggle chairs, fluffy pillows or old wooden chairs and stools. Whatever cozy furniture you use make sure it is different from the furniture around the rest of your classroom. This creates an exclusive and inviting environment where students want to be.
Lighting
Give me a cute lamp and coffee table and I am all in and ready to read. A classroom reading corner is so much more inviting with special lighting. Simple ideas include lamps, floor lamps, twinkle lights, etc. Whatever way you choose to use lighting it is important to make this lighting different than the rest of the classroom.
Reading Bulletin board
Another fun thing about our reading corner in my classroom is we have a reading corner bulletin board. At the beginning of the year, this bulletin board has quotes about reading and then I switch it out to display different seasonal aspects.
3 additional reading corner ideas to boost engagement
Below are three more reading corner ideas to use, which are optional, to increase engagement.
Reading Corner Fort
Put a small tent in the corner of the reading nook. Reading forts or tents are a fun way for students to explore and read books. I would set rules around this and even limit the number of students allowed in the reading fort at one time.
In my classroom the years that I had a reading loft, I created a loft rotation schedule so all students had the chance to be in the loft each week. A wonderful benefit of having a loft or fort is it makes the reading corner area in your classroom that much more exciting and something to look forward to.
Reading Corner Special Book Bin
While all books are in themed bins, it can be fun to incorporate new books into a special book bin each month. For example, in my classroom I often check out books from the public library. I read them aloud to my students. Students are always wanting to have these books in their own book bins. Since I have lost and had to pay for several library books in the past, I don’t allow students to put library books in their own book bins.
However, I have created a special bin in my classroom for library books. Students are always welcome to look at and read these books while in the reading corner but they may not check them out for their own book bins. This special bin is highly sought after and often empty because students always want to read these books.
Author Spotlight in your Reading Corner
One of the best parts about teaching primary-age children to read is showing them new authors and the excitement of new stories. I have several authors that I really love reading their books to my students as read-alouds. Therefore, I have created book bins for each of these authors. Students often seek out these books before any others.
Therefore, highlight one author each month and read the books by the author during your read-aloud time. After reading these books they may live in a special Author Book Bin. Again, include a framed photo of the author and place it in your reading corner.
Some of my favorite authors are:
Kevin Henkes
Dr. Seuss
Eric Carle
Robert Munsch
Jan Brett
Peter H. Reynolds
Gail Gibbons
Leo Lionni
Arnold Lobel
Incorporating holiday touches into your reading corner
It feels like once the school year begins there is one holiday every month until summer vacation. The great part about that is we can easily change up the decorations, books, and excitement about our reading corner. This is also wonderful because it allows us to show children a variety of new books each month that work with the changing of seasons and holidays.
Fall
During the fall, transform your reading corner into a harvest oasis. Incorporate fake pumpkins, or real, and leaves with a bunch of fall and Halloween books on display. One year we even created a bat cave by using black plastic table covers as drapes over our Loft. We were studying bats at the time but this is a fun way to change your reading corner for the season.
Winter
Transform your reading corner during the winter time by having students cut out paper snowflakes. Hang them around your reading corner. Display books about snow, winter and hibernation. You’re reading corner can then transform into the bear’s den during this colder season. Even top it off with a few bear stuffed animals. Stuffed animals are a wonderful way to have reading buddies built into the classroom. Students often want somebody to read to and a stuffed animal is a great option.
Spring
Next, transform your reading corner from a bear’s den hibernation setting to the spring awakening with flowers and decorations of animals waking from hibernation.
Summer
Finally, get ready for summer vacation by transforming your reading corner once again into a summer beach setting. Use bright colors, have beach balls and fidgets as well as fun little sunglasses. This would be a wonderful time to display a Summer Book Bingo Challenge on your reading corner bulletin board.
Reading Corner Recap
As you can see it is easy to build excitement and promote reading development by using these classroom reading corner ideas. Students will want to spend time in this area which will then help to build a love of reading.
I’m a firm believer that children become readers when they love having books in their hands and creating a cozy reading corner does just that.
Want more ideas on how to promote reading development in the classroom while giving students choice and autonomy over their learning? Are you looking for a literacy system that is has less student and teacher interruptions and more engaged and relevant learning? Well you’ve found it with a Must Do, May Do literacy system. Click here or the image below for more information and to get a quick guidebook and template.
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