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Rethinking Reading Logs for beginning readers

2015-08-27 By: That Fun Reading Teacher7 Comments

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Rethinking reading logs for early readers

Do you use Reading Logs with your students? They were common practice when I started teaching, and there wasn’t much discussion about them at the time.  I have been rethinking them recently, however, particularly for beginning readers.

The year I used traditional reading logs

When I was a first grade teacher early in my career, I sent traditional reading logs home, but had mixed feelings about continuing with them after noticing the lack of enthusiasm from students and parents. A few of my students diligently filled them in and proudly showed them off to classmates, some did not use them at all and the rest fell somewhere in between. As the months went on, I shifted them to optional, and started playing with their format.

I was a new mother at that time, and although my son wasn’t yet a year old, I was starting to think about the parent perspective. I had three first grade classes when my own kids were little, and…

What I learned:

  • the importance of the expression ‘It takes a village to raise a child‘
  • only a small number of my students were motivated by traditional reading logs
  • some of my students weren’t handing them in was because their parents were just learning English themselves, and did not understand what the paper meant and / or have access to books in their first language
  • traditional Reading Logs were meaningless to the kids; an inconvenient, ‘one-more-thing to do’ on the plates of loving, caring, well-intentioned and busy parents and caregivers
  • traditional reading logs can give parents / caregivers the impression they are being policed

What I changed:

I created alternative reading logs for kindergarten and first grade that focused on celebrating moments of reading for joy, favorite stories / books.

My students’ monthly, optional, alternative reading log – a record of story or book they enjoyed and who they shared it with! They are proud to tell their peers about it and answer questions, and bring it in whenever they are ready. The boxes are for self-evaluation (explained in post) and their journal becomes a great keepsake!
My students’ monthly, optional, alternative reading log – a record of story or book they enjoyed and who they shared it with! They are proud to tell their peers about it and answer questions, and bring it in whenever they are ready. The boxes are for self-evaluation (explained in post) and their journal becomes a great keepsake!

This reading journal / log has evolved over the years to include check boxes:

  • Do I find ways to fit reading into my life every day (or most days)?
  • Do I put my school reading materials in my backpack as soon as I am finished with them at home?
  • Do I look at, listen to or read books about things that interest me, make me laugh, or that I just really enjoy?
  • Do I get ready for bed quickly so I have time for a bedtime story?
Click here for more information on the K-1 12 month Alternative Reading Log

The most important thing

We celebrate reading. My students bring in their Reading Logs monthly, whenever they have a new page to show off, and share it with their peers. They answer their friends questions about it, the page gets a special sticker, and at the end of the year, they have a journal of stories they enjoyed and who they shared them with. There is no pressure to get it done or bring it in. I do not track it. It is purely about reading for joy.

What are your thoughts about Reading Logs for beginning readers?

Try the K-1 Alternative Reading Log with your students, free for September!


While this is not part of

Reading Logs – rejigged

it is the ideal info sheet

(& freebie) to include

with it or in your

familiar reading bags! 


Best wishes to all of you as we embark on another school year!


Looking for an alternative Reading Log for your Kindergarten, first grade students? Try September free on this K-1 Reading Log Rejigged, with the focus on sharing magic of reading, taking pride in age-appropriate responsibilities! #September #bts #kindergarten #free #tpt #readinglogalternative

I realized early that my K-1 students needing an alternative and flexible reading log to motivate them and keep the focus on reading for joy. Here is what I came up with! Click through for a link to a free one month trial! $ #earlylearning #kindergarten #1stgrade #tpt #alternativereadinglog #thatfunreadingteacher

  • Rethinking Reading Logs for beginning readers

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    Comments

    1. Kari says

      2015-08-27 at 8:48 pm

      Ive been rethinking home reading too! After a full day of learning and exploring at school, do we really need them to be laboured with more work at home!
      I think that this is a great re-jig!!! Can’t wait to use it!

      Reply
      • thatfunreadingteacher says

        2015-09-02 at 10:56 pm

        Thank you so much for your comment, Kari! I’m happy to hear you feel the same way! I still think the reading itself is important, but we’ve just got to bring back the joy!

        Reply
    2. Sarah says

      2015-09-10 at 5:13 pm

      We are homeschooling Prek this year. I found myself wanting a log, but maybe not of one consisting of the hundredth time we randomly read a Dr Seuss book (sometimes twice in a row). This is easy to integrate. I can log extended chapter book readings, & also use this to keep all of us (daddy) on track with making sure reading for fun, regardless of the book or number of times it’s been read, is still a part of our routine. Great idea! Thank you!

      Reply
      • thatfunreadingteacher says

        2015-09-19 at 2:34 pm

        Thanks so much for writing, Sarah! I’m so happy it works for your homeschooling! I love that you’re keeping reading fun! šŸ˜‰

        Reply
    3. Tammy says

      2016-09-02 at 8:35 am

      I rethought reading logs last year and ditched them all together in a trade for “status of the class” each morning as our morning routine. I DEFINITELY believe children still need to read each night. It needs to be a lifelong passion and for many kids, that comes from a passionate teacher who expected them to read good books every day and taught them how to make it important in their lives. We can have reading accountability without reading logs. I love your spin on it for the lower grades.

      Reply
      • thatfunreadingteacher says

        2016-09-06 at 7:36 pm

        Thank you so much, Tammy. I love your status of the class idea!

        Reply

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