One of the basic areas that's needed in any successful classroom is the literacy area. This is the place in the room in which children are able to look through books, listen to records or practice writing skills. The following are a few ideas that need to be considered in order to get the most out of your learning environment.

Placement

Place the literacy area in a part of the room that is not a high traffic section. This area is a place in which the children are solitary in their play and if the area was located in a busy region of the classroom, the children seeking alone play are less likely to participate in the activity.

Ensure the other areas around the literacy area are typically or moderately quiet areas, such as writing, computer, fine motor, or art areas. The literacy area usually is quiet. Therefore, if you put a loud activity such as blocks or imaginative play next to it, the noise will carry over and interrupt the play. Keep the area open, yet section it off so there's little disturbance from surrounding interest areas

Make Inviting

Provide soft furnishings such as cushioned chairs or pillows. Upon seeing, this a child sees a cozy area and is reassured that the area is a comfortable and warm environment.

Appeal to diverse needs of the children. Provide various work surfaces, such as a table and chair or soft furnishings. As a teacher, you are able to key in on the different learning styles of the children. Decorate the area so that it shows a representation of the children of the classroom. Display pictures of the children from the classroom, as well as various class events & family pictures.

Appearance

Arrange the area so that the books are neatly displayed on a shelf or a book display. Showing the reading materials in a orderly manner is appealing to the children's eye, therefore that are more likely to come into the literacy area.

Provide props to enhance the literacy area, such as puppets, puppet theater, big book displays, record players, etc.

Rotate the books in the literacy area. Select between 15 to 20 books (depending on how many are in the classroom), that are closely related to an event happening in the classroom. (Example: Books about Ireland for St. Patrick's Day)

Sometimes so many books are overwhelming and over stimulating for a child, to the point in which the area maybe uninviting.

It is okay to throw away. Throw away the old books that are torn beyond repair. The books that are in poor condition are of no use to children when pages are missing, fronts are torn off, or there are major tears on the pages.