Time for school? Time for reading! Are you creating a reading center for the children in your class this year? Teachers who focus on primary age children are always searching for reading-oriented decorations and activities, and creating a classroom reading corner covers both of these bases.
The Classroom Reading Schedule
Place a daily and weekly reading schedule on the wall so that children know when they will have silent, pair, or group reading. If you read longer books together as a class, place the dust jackets or other images from these books on the wall so that children know what is coming up in the reading schedule this year.
ABC Decorations
Have each child pick a letter that is in his or her name. Give the children blank letters so that they can decorate the inside of the letter. The children can decorate all of the letters of the alphabet, then you can place them around the upper portions of the classroom walls.
I Love Reading Because
Place the statement “I love reading because” on the wall. Have the children write statements below it with the different reasons that they love reading.
Decorate With The Never Ending Story
On the walls of the reading corner, place a large, colorful piece of paper. Place a pile of paper in a basket next to the piece of paper. Put pens and tape in the basket as well. Place a single sentence at the top of a long, rectangular piece of paper on the wall. The students can reach into the basket and add another sentence to the story.
Build a Story With a Magnetic Board
For younger readers, use simple words and pictures and place them on rare earth magnets. Hang a metal sheet on the wall as your story board. The children can arrange the words and pictures into sentences and stories.
Props for Library Books
If you have a small library in your reading corner, add to it with props. Smaller children love to play with finger puppets, and you can hang related finger puppets or natural items on hooks on the wall next to your library.
Make Book Characters Come to Life
If you are all reading a book together, place images of some of the book’s characters on the wall. Have the children design different backgrounds, homes and outfits for these characters.
Well-chosen wall decorations can help inspire children to read. Even if you have limited floor space, you can extend your reading program with activities that the children can do with wall decorations.
Tricia Edgar - Tricia Edgar is a gardener, environmental educator, and science writer from the Pacific Northwest.
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