Teachers have been using reading logs as reading homework for a very long time now. I was told as a first-year teacher that I had to use them, and I believed they were the best way to track a student’s reading. It took me a few years of teaching AND becoming a parent of a school-aged child to realize that reading logs didn’t provide the value I believed they did. Here is why reading logs don’t work, what we can do instead, and 10 tips you can share with parents to get kids reading at home.
Reading Logs: The Teacher’s Perspective
Does this sound familiar?
You give a student a reading log on Monday. Each night they have to read for “whatever” minutes and write their start and end time on their log, as well as some other information about the text they read. In addition, parents have to sign it. The next morning you walk around and check to make sure reading logs are filled in and signed. If they aren’t signed or filled in, it is assumed the student didn’t read.
So, if a reading log is signed, does that mean your student actually read? If it isn’t signed, does that mean your student didn’t read? If they did read, what was the quality of the text? Did they really understand it? When it all comes down to it, a reading log is just a piece of paper that gives us no real information about how a student is doing as a reader. I think it is safe to say that reading logs do not provide a teacher with any real information about their students.
Reading Logs: The Home Perspective
Even the best and most motivated readers don’t want to read every day. My daughter is a highly motivated reader who will sit all day with a book if she has the opportunity. However, there are days when she wants to paint a picture, play with friends, ride her bike, or just relax and watch a movie. On these days, if I asked her to stop what she was doing and go read for thirty minutes, she would do it, but she would not be happy about it. Simply by making it a requirement, I’ve sucked the joy out of her reading time. As a parent, this is not how I want my child to feel about reading a book.
The Potential Damage
So, even though reading logs aren’t helping the teacher, why can’t we continue to use them, just in case? Simple. There are some potentially serious issues reading logs can cause for students.
Reading logs turn reading a book into a task. I don’t know about you, but when I am forced to read something, I HATE it! I like to read when I want to, and that is it. Why shouldn’t we expect the same of our students? If we force students to read every night for a set amount of time, we are taking the fun out of reading. We are making reading a book a chore instead of a choice. (Stay with me, I have a solution for this!)
Reading has a time frame with a reading log. Now that reading is a task, it also has a time frame. Students aren’t just picking up books and reading until they are ready to stop. More than likely, if a reading log is involved, students are setting a timer or watching the clock. If you ask them to read for thirty minutes (assuming they are actually reading), that is how long they will read. Not a second longer.
What’s the REAL Goal?
We want our students to read regularly and enjoy reading. We want them to read quality texts and understand what they have read. We want students to gain habits that allow them to grow into lifelong readers.
The Solution
How can we accomplish these goals? There are two possible options.
1. Help Parents Promote Good Reading Habits at Home
Yes, it is up to the parent to encourage their child to read. All you can do is guide them. Kind of the same way a dentist can encourage us to brush our teeth twice a day, but can’t actually come to our house and force us to do so.
Getting students to read nightly because they want to is a pretty difficult task. We all know you really can’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to do. Kids are NO exception…not even a little bit. As teachers, it’s our job to find ways to motivate students to read and share those tips with parents.
10 Tips for Getting Students to Read Without Using Reading Logs
I wrote these tips for parents. Feel free to share them at the beginning of the school year or anytime throughout. You can also download a PDF version of this list to print.
- Make reading a part of your nightly routine. Bedtime is the perfect time to read. Doing this makes children feel like they are getting to stay up later, and it’s a great time to wind down from the day’s events.
- When you can, read as a family. Children love sitting with a parent and sharing this special time. During this time, each person reads their own book. This also models good reading habits.
- Let your child pick a book that interests them. They will be more likely to read if they are enjoying the book. For example, if your child enjoys Minecraft, try letting them read a Minecraft “how-to” guide.
- Set up a special reading spot in your home that is comfortable. This may include a special chair, blanket, or pillow.
- Read a book together. You can each read the same book on your own (if you have two copies), or read the same book at the same time. Taking turns reading is a great way to model and practice good reading.
- Talk about the book your child is reading. Children love to share things they have learned.
- When your child finishes a book, get excited! Tell them how proud you are and talk about the book.
- Go to the library regularly to pick out books. This gets kids excited about reading.
- Reward your child for finishing a book! Not with a sticker or toy! Reward them by letting them sit with a family member (a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin) and talk about the book. Maybe let them call a friend and tell them about the book.
- Make reading a priority in your household. If your child knows reading is important to you and their future, they will learn to value it as well.
2. Use a Better Tool for Reading Homework
Teachers can use a better tool for reading homework to help ensure a small amount of quality reading is being accomplished every night.
If you are no longer using reading logs for homework and are looking for a way to ensure some quality reading time every night, this reading homework resource may be just what you are looking for. Students get a professionally written, high-interest passage each week to focus on. Each night they read the passage and answer 4 comprehension questions. Repeated readings help improve fluency and understanding. The questions increase in rigor each night and are text-dependent. You can grab a few FREE weeks to try out in your classroom.
CLICK your grade level to take a closer look!
You can learn even more in my post on how to make reading homework meaningful.
A Note About Some Students
For some students, reading logs may be a good option. If there is little to no parental support at home, students may need a daily reminder (a reading log) to help them form good reading habits. You may want to consider using reading logs for specific students as a way of encouraging them to read daily. This may not be necessary for every child.
I hope this helps you rethink reading homework in your classroom! For even more ideas, check out my posts on independent reading activities and an effective approach to homework.
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