Estonian Reading Association

the project "Readig Nest/ Lugemispesa" 

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The project Lugemispesa (Reading Nest) was initiated by Estonian Reading Association in 2004. The purpose of the project is to give teachers an opportunity to get new ideas and experiences in how to adjust reading environment in kindergartens and elementary schools and how to make books and reading activities more interesting to children.

The Aims of The Project are:

-      to arouse children’s interest towards books and reading;

-       to encourage children to take initiative and be creative;

-       to prevent social problems by giving something to do in spare time;

-       to prevent learning problems through a child’s experience of using books;

-       to give teachers new ideas and encourage them to be creative;

-       to involve parents to co-operate with educational establishment;

-       to involve community.

Criteria of Physical Environment:

1.    Classroom furniture is placed the way that children can work in small groups;

2.    Furniture is comfortable, healthy, and suitable for children. For example there could be a couch, an armchair, a mattress, a carpet, a shelf, a table, a chair in a reading nest;

3.    Books/materials must be reachable, ethical, according to the children’s age, and interests;

4.    There could be: craftwork materials and equipment, papers, writing tools, scissors, paints, whole puncher, yarn, stapler, reusable materials (empty household materials), reading and picture materials on the walls/surfaces.

Reading Nest Activities:

1.       Exploring Literature: worksheets, reading, listening, individual or group discussions and interviews;

2.       Preparing books and reading materials;

3.       Activities about a favorite book: drawing competitions, etc.;

      4     Creative and drama games.

      5.    Playing reading games.

 

IN THE READING NEST YOU CAN FIND:

Printed Materials:

·        Science books with fascinating pictures and photos, books in different languages (if there are different nationalities in the class);

·        Different kind of books: story books, poetry, picture books;

·        Books that represent the diversity of the group, different interests, traditions (multicultural groups);

·         Magazines; newspapers, comic books, coloring books.

 Craftwork Equipment and Materials:

• Scissors, glue, different papers
• Pencils, markers
• Old magazines, calendars, reusable materials for cutting.

Audio Equipment

• CD-player, tape recorder
• TV and VCR, DVD player (might be, not a must)
• CDs and DVDs, VHS tapes, music and story tapes, earplugs.

Drama Equipment

• Finger puppets, puppets
• Toys
• Paper dolls, box theatre