December brings sparkly excitement to every primary school classroom, but it also presents unique challenges for maintaining reading momentum. Between festive preparations, nativity rehearsals, and holiday anticipation, keeping pupils engaged with books requires creativity and planning. This festive month offers incredible opportunities to weave reading into seasonal celebrations, making it fun, social and relevant.
We have found that the magic of December reading lies in connecting reading to the season's natural excitement. Children are receptive to shared experiences and the cosy winter months are the perfect time to strengthen your classroom reading culture. With shorter days and longer evenings, December creates an ideal atmosphere for nurturing a love of books through shared social experiences.
Storytime, every day, will have a transformative effect on your pupils' enthusiasm and motivation to read.
Create a reading advent calendar
Transform December mornings with a book-focused 'advent calendar' that builds anticipation for reading every single day.
Wrap 24 books in festive paper so that children can unwrap one a day. You could either date the parcels or let them choose - a lucky dip. The book that is unwrapped is for reading aloud to the class on that day. Books could be those you already have in school, favourites you know your class love, or if funds permit, a couple of new ones could be included.
Incorporate picture books and shorter reads into your 'advent calendar', so you can use one a day. Otherwise, throughout December, consider reading a chapter a day of a book chosen by the class - cliff-hangers and daily sessions will build engagement and anticipation.
Place your 'advent calendar' book parcels in a prominent classroom location where pupils can gather each morning. This ritual creates structure while building excitement around books and reading activities.
Festive storytime: read aloud to your class
The shared experience of daily storytime is joyful - even reluctant readers feel part of it and included. Remember that consistency matters more than duration. Short, regular reading sessions work better than occasional lengthy sessions. Research has shown frequent storytime motivates children to read independently, raises reading attainment and increases comprehension levels.
If not reading aloud, why not incorporate audiobooks into creative/free time in the classroom.
For example, these wonderful audio collections from popular children's authors are perfect for playing in the classroom throughout December -
These are available from major retailers including Audible, Apple, and also included in Spotify Premium subscriptions as part of the 15h audiobook allowance.
Embrace seasonal stories and themes
December reading shouldn't be limited to Christmas stories and if you expand your seasonal selections to include winter tales, friendship stories, and books about different cultural celebrations, all pupils will feel represented and included while exploring diverse perspectives and traditions.
Build themed reading corners featuring:
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Winter wonderland books: Stories about snow, hibernation, and cold-weather adventures.
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Celebration stories: Books exploring Christmas, Hanukkah, the winters solstice and any local winter festivals you might have.
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Kindness and giving tales: Stories emphasising generosity, community, and helping others.
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Cosy indoor adventures: Perfect for shorter daylight hours and indoor playtimes.
Check out our collection of perfect festive reads for some inspiration. Encourage pupils to vote on their favourite seasonal reads and create displays showcasing popular choices.
December reading activities
December's natural rhythm lends itself perfectly to special reading events and activities: take advantage of the festive atmosphere to try new approaches that spark excitement about books.
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Storytelling by candlelight (battery-operated candles for safety!): Dim the classroom lights and create atmospheric reading sessions that feel magical and special. This works particularly well for traditional tales and winter stories.
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Storytelling in front of the fire: Play a video of a real log fire to add to the atmosphere.
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Family reading activities: Share our Book Squad resources with advice for parents as to how to continue engagement with reading over the festive season.
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Book swap shop: Organise a classroom Christmas book exchange where pupils can bring in books they've enjoyed and swap them for new reading adventures.
Making reading memories that last
December reading experiences can create lasting positive associations with books and stories. When pupils connect festive excitement with enjoyment in stories and books, they develop emotional connections to reading that extend far beyond the classroom.
A daily story can make a meaningful difference and engage your pupils throughout the festive season!