As a teacher, you want your students to continue practicing reading at home. Reading logs have been a common strategy to encourage students to read at home. But are they really the most effective way to do this? Let’s consider some more effective reading log alternatives to support authentic reading behaviors.
What is a Reading Log?
Reading logs have commonly been used to track students’ reading at home. Teachers may send home a form for families to document when students read at home for extra practice and accountability. Parents may record the title of the book(s) read and the number of pages or minutes spent reading.
Common types of reading logs include:
- Chart with date, title/minutes read, and parent signature
- Monthly logs where students color an image each time they read a book
Reasons to Reconsider Reading Logs
Many teachers use reading logs for extra practice and student accountability. But do traditional reading logs actually accomplish those purposes effectively?
Student Accountability
Teachers use reading logs as a way to hold students accountable for reading. But does it really increase accountability? Do we actually know if a student actually read the book or for a certain number of minutes? Just because the paper gets signed, doesn’t guarantee that it happened or that it was quality reading.
Reading Engagement
Reading logs can actually reinforce negative reading behaviors. Students may fake reading just to say they did it. It could also have been distracted reading in front of a TV. I think we can all agree that this isn’t the type of reading we want students to be engaged in at home! That will not help them develop strong reading habits or grow as readers.
Reading Log Alternatives
These reading log alternatives will hold students accountable and build reading engagement. The difference between these ideas and traditional reading logs is that they encourage more authentic reading behaviors – which is ultimately what we want!
Book Reviews
Students can write a book review about a book they read at home. This is a more authentic way to hold students accountable for their at-home reading. Compile students’ book reviews and keep them in your classroom library. Students can read their classmates’ reviews to get ideas for the books they’d like to read next.
Reading Challenges
Reading challenges are a fun way to get students reading! Challenge students to read a variety of genres, try a new author, or read about a distant location. You can even offer monthly thematic challenges to keep it interesting. These are great for introducing students to new types of texts and building up excitement about reading.
Reading Response
Students can respond to a prompt about a text they read at home. It will be challenging to complete this prompt if they do not actually do the reading! Plus it encourages the reading and writing connection to improve students’ literacy overall.
Reading Goals
Students can set individual reading goals that they want to accomplish. Reading conferences are the perfect opportunity for teachers to help students set and track their goals. Instead of sending home a reading log, use a recording sheet for students to track their progress toward achieving their reading goals.
Encouraging Reading at Home
The ultimate goal for at-home reading is to encourage students to READ! We want to help them develop positive reading habits and find reading enjoyable. By using some of these reading log alternatives you can encourage more authentic reading. If you’ve tried other approaches to promote at-home reading, please share in the comments below!
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