How do you or the teachers in your school use reading logs: to promote thoughtful reflection with students about their reading lives, or to ensure students are reading? Do you see these two objectives mutually exclusive or can one support the other? Please share your current thinking and examples here!
I think I will post a survey next week at this time, see what readers/followers might prefer instead with these threaded discussions. Have a nice evening, -Matt
I keep my reading log completely on Goodreads. I make a goal every year in the Reading Challenge. (Usually 50 books, haven't met it since 2015.) The goal helps me stay with reading, reading every day. As I review my books throughout the year, I can feel a sense of accomplishment in my "reading log". I can also see what types of books I'm reading and reflect on how my reading habits might be favoring one genre over another. For example, I tend to read more nonfiction than fiction. Seeing a visual log of my reading diet is a quick way to assess and rethink future book choices. So...I see reading logs serving dual purposes: to reflect and to hold myself accountable.
We have just lightly scratched the surface with this, teachers use this largely to see who is reading at home but there isn't a punishment or reward tied to it. I LOVE the premise of reflection on the reading and keeping track during school - nothing wrong with trying to log reading at home to encourage kiddos to read, but with some family dynamics, it doesn't always work. We are doing a read it forward initiative in some of our grade levels (read the book, share your review as you pass it on to someone else to read) - would love to span that out to our staff!
Thankfully most of our staff moved away from reading logs. They were being used to ensure students read nightly, but teachers came to realize we can not control what happens in our students lives once they exit the school building.
When I was teaching (7 years ago, wow), our whole building used reading bags with reading logs sent home nightly with real books from our school. The building was largely free & reduced lunches and the students definitely had many needs past their time in our building. But, these reading baggies and logs kept the parents involved in this little piece of their child's school work. For nearly all, they came back signed daily. Some families spoke of this with pride: "I read with my child and sign his reading bag every night!" Some students brought them in with pride: "My grandma from TN signed mine last night!" For some, they read & signed the form with the crossing guard, the morning recess staff, a volunteer, me... I'm not positive the reading logs held much purpose, other than a means to the end of children reading. I'd be curious what former students and parents would have to say!
I don’t want more work for you, and I’m not sure how the slow chats work exactly. I kind of thought maybe they just were on a twitter thread but I have zero idea how to do that. Sometimes it just takes time to get a new idea up and running. Know you are doing great things to move effective literacy practices fwd.
Wednesday Wondering: Reading Logs: A Tool for Reflection or Accountability?
I think I will post a survey next week at this time, see what readers/followers might prefer instead with these threaded discussions. Have a nice evening, -Matt
I keep my reading log completely on Goodreads. I make a goal every year in the Reading Challenge. (Usually 50 books, haven't met it since 2015.) The goal helps me stay with reading, reading every day. As I review my books throughout the year, I can feel a sense of accomplishment in my "reading log". I can also see what types of books I'm reading and reflect on how my reading habits might be favoring one genre over another. For example, I tend to read more nonfiction than fiction. Seeing a visual log of my reading diet is a quick way to assess and rethink future book choices. So...I see reading logs serving dual purposes: to reflect and to hold myself accountable.
We have just lightly scratched the surface with this, teachers use this largely to see who is reading at home but there isn't a punishment or reward tied to it. I LOVE the premise of reflection on the reading and keeping track during school - nothing wrong with trying to log reading at home to encourage kiddos to read, but with some family dynamics, it doesn't always work. We are doing a read it forward initiative in some of our grade levels (read the book, share your review as you pass it on to someone else to read) - would love to span that out to our staff!
Thankfully most of our staff moved away from reading logs. They were being used to ensure students read nightly, but teachers came to realize we can not control what happens in our students lives once they exit the school building.
When I was teaching (7 years ago, wow), our whole building used reading bags with reading logs sent home nightly with real books from our school. The building was largely free & reduced lunches and the students definitely had many needs past their time in our building. But, these reading baggies and logs kept the parents involved in this little piece of their child's school work. For nearly all, they came back signed daily. Some families spoke of this with pride: "I read with my child and sign his reading bag every night!" Some students brought them in with pride: "My grandma from TN signed mine last night!" For some, they read & signed the form with the crossing guard, the morning recess staff, a volunteer, me... I'm not positive the reading logs held much purpose, other than a means to the end of children reading. I'd be curious what former students and parents would have to say!
I don’t want more work for you, and I’m not sure how the slow chats work exactly. I kind of thought maybe they just were on a twitter thread but I have zero idea how to do that. Sometimes it just takes time to get a new idea up and running. Know you are doing great things to move effective literacy practices fwd.
Matt, maybe consider doing a slow chat that spans over the week...??? Giving a little more flexibility for participants. Just a thought...