Would it really be Jodi's blog without a rant? Of course not. So here I am here to guest rant while Jodi is off on vacation where I'm sure she is hoarding her rants for when she returns. So without further ado, let me rant…
Guest Rant: I Hate Reading…Logs
Our guest poster today is Devra, another one of the DC Metro Moms, and also friend in a real life. But, long before she was my friend, she helped get me over my guilt about not breastfeeding when we appeared together on Motherhood Uncensored blog talk radio show.
Reading logs. I am going to rant about reading logs. Let me be perfectly clear, I am not against reading books, just the opposite. Hell, I am an author, so obviously reading books is something I want people to do and I do myself. What I am raging against is the idea my children must be required to fill out a weekly reading log for school. My children are readers, my husband and I read to our kids. There is probably more reading going on in our household on a weekly basis than the playing of video games. We live in the kind of house where our kids will sneak a flashlight under their covers to finish a book way after bedtime. My husband and I have had conversations that go like this:
The Huz: "He's up reading. It's midnight. I hate to tell him to stop reading, but it's really getting late."
Me: "Yeah, I know. It's not like he's doing something bad. It's reading after all. But the kid needs his sleep."
The Huz: "Well, I know how it feels when you really are into a book and want to finish it. I'll see how many more pages he's got."
Me:" That works for me, if he has more than 10 pages, we could let him know he can finish in the AM."
The Huz: "Will do."
Look, I realize my kids are not representative of all kids. Not all children are enthusiastic readers, not all kids have access to books at home nor can afford to buy books. Not all parents enjoy reading or read to their children, there are parents who won't/can't get to a library. I get that. Totally. For these kids, reading logs make sense, these kids need the extra push, they may require more direction on what to read, need assistance in learning about the importance of picking up a book and reading independently.
What I am concerned about is my kids already read for pleasure, they already find reading fun, they already are enthusiastic readers. My kids do not need to have their reading monitored by the school. They do not need pizza as an incentive to read. (And it's another rant entirely about how schools use food and candy as rewards in classrooms, I hate that too! Go print this and bring it to your school!)
The reading logs only stress my kids out and create an atmosphere where they no longer see reading as fun, they see it as an assignment. Or even worse, something they need to do in order to get a reward. I am angered they are being influenced by the school system to perform like a circus animal so they can receive an external reward for a skill they already possess and have internalized as something they value. My kids do not need the school to regulate their reading.
In fact, my kids read so much that when we looked at the Summer Reading list, we determined there was no need for our kids to worry about it because they had already read 90% of the books listed!
So what have we done about this? We don't fill out the logs. Are you horrified? Think we are terrible people for bucking the system? For kids like ours, we don't need that system. It's useless to us. But we buck it in a responsible manner. We've been known to send in a note to the teacher letting them know our kids are voracious readers and we will not be logging in their reading. We've even told teachers at our Parent/Teacher conference we aren't going to fill out the log. And you know what? The earth did not open wide and we did not get sucked down into hell. The teacher didn't fail our kid either.
I'll end my rant with clarifying, I believe reading is fundamental. I have the utmost respect for teachers and their desire to promote reading. I just don't believe required reading logs are fundamentally important for every single student from Kindergarten to 12th grade.
What's your read on it?
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
As a parent of a 3 year old who would read all day long if she could and a former high school English teacher I can see both sides. It is a blessing when children love to read without the promise of rewards. When I was teaching I never used a reward system for reading. It was something I wanted them to do and to end up loving it. For that reason I tried to make it as little like an “assignment” as I possibly could. HOwever, there are always students who will view it as work and if there is not something to hold them accountable (ie: a reading log) then they just won’t do it. That being said, I never required reading logs. They were simply required to read a certain selection of books, many of the books we read together as a class, and were tested on it usually by one essay question that could not be answered if they only read the Cliff Notes or other internet summary. I agree that for kids who read, turning into something the school tracks, is frustrating. I think most teachers just want to make sure they are reading and gaining the necessary skills (often developed or honed by reading) and the log, unfortunately, is a “fair and consistent” way to track the progress of all students.
As a parent of a 3 year old who would read all day long if she could and a former high school English teacher I can see both sides. It is a blessing when children love to read without the promise of rewards. When I was teaching I never used a reward system for reading. It was something I wanted them to do and to end up loving it. For that reason I tried to make it as little like an “assignment” as I possibly could. HOwever, there are always students who will view it as work and if there is not something to hold them accountable (ie: a reading log) then they just won’t do it. That being said, I never required reading logs. They were simply required to read a certain selection of books, many of the books we read together as a class, and were tested on it usually by one essay question that could not be answered if they only read the Cliff Notes or other internet summary. I agree that for kids who read, turning into something the school tracks, is frustrating. I think most teachers just want to make sure they are reading and gaining the necessary skills (often developed or honed by reading) and the log, unfortunately, is a “fair and consistent” way to track the progress of all students.
As a parent of a 3 year old who would read all day long if she could and a former high school English teacher I can see both sides. It is a blessing when children love to read without the promise of rewards. When I was teaching I never used a reward system for reading. It was something I wanted them to do and to end up loving it. For that reason I tried to make it as little like an “assignment” as I possibly could. HOwever, there are always students who will view it as work and if there is not something to hold them accountable (ie: a reading log) then they just won’t do it. That being said, I never required reading logs. They were simply required to read a certain selection of books, many of the books we read together as a class, and were tested on it usually by one essay question that could not be answered if they only read the Cliff Notes or other internet summary. I agree that for kids who read, turning into something the school tracks, is frustrating. I think most teachers just want to make sure they are reading and gaining the necessary skills (often developed or honed by reading) and the log, unfortunately, is a “fair and consistent” way to track the progress of all students.
As a parent of a 3 year old who would read all day long if she could and a former high school English teacher I can see both sides. It is a blessing when children love to read without the promise of rewards. When I was teaching I never used a reward system for reading. It was something I wanted them to do and to end up loving it. For that reason I tried to make it as little like an “assignment” as I possibly could. HOwever, there are always students who will view it as work and if there is not something to hold them accountable (ie: a reading log) then they just won’t do it. That being said, I never required reading logs. They were simply required to read a certain selection of books, many of the books we read together as a class, and were tested on it usually by one essay question that could not be answered if they only read the Cliff Notes or other internet summary. I agree that for kids who read, turning into something the school tracks, is frustrating. I think most teachers just want to make sure they are reading and gaining the necessary skills (often developed or honed by reading) and the log, unfortunately, is a “fair and consistent” way to track the progress of all students.
I have a different take onthe reading log altogether and think as annoying as it might be if it is a standard in the classroom I think it should be done. It is great that your children far exceed the standard set by the reading log but the additional responsibility comes with filling out the log and turning it in. There are many things in life that might annoy me but if it is a requirement then I just have to suck it up and move on. That is also the lesson I hope to pass on to my children. Again I think it is great accomplishment to have excellent readers in the house.
I have a different take onthe reading log altogether and think as annoying as it might be if it is a standard in the classroom I think it should be done. It is great that your children far exceed the standard set by the reading log but the additional responsibility comes with filling out the log and turning it in. There are many things in life that might annoy me but if it is a requirement then I just have to suck it up and move on. That is also the lesson I hope to pass on to my children. Again I think it is great accomplishment to have excellent readers in the house.
I have a different take onthe reading log altogether and think as annoying as it might be if it is a standard in the classroom I think it should be done. It is great that your children far exceed the standard set by the reading log but the additional responsibility comes with filling out the log and turning it in. There are many things in life that might annoy me but if it is a requirement then I just have to suck it up and move on. That is also the lesson I hope to pass on to my children. Again I think it is great accomplishment to have excellent readers in the house.
I have a different take onthe reading log altogether and think as annoying as it might be if it is a standard in the classroom I think it should be done. It is great that your children far exceed the standard set by the reading log but the additional responsibility comes with filling out the log and turning it in. There are many things in life that might annoy me but if it is a requirement then I just have to suck it up and move on. That is also the lesson I hope to pass on to my children. Again I think it is great accomplishment to have excellent readers in the house.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, both as a parent and as a former English teacher. The logs are a pain the butt, and I think they end up making something fun into a chore more than they end up pushing kids who need it. Frankly I used contracts with kids who needed the push, because the last thing I wanted to do as a teacher was to cause a child to lose their sense of enjoyment from reading. I fill out their logs at this point (only my oldest is old enough to do her own) and we do it by running around the last night before they’re due trying to remember who read what.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, both as a parent and as a former English teacher. The logs are a pain the butt, and I think they end up making something fun into a chore more than they end up pushing kids who need it. Frankly I used contracts with kids who needed the push, because the last thing I wanted to do as a teacher was to cause a child to lose their sense of enjoyment from reading. I fill out their logs at this point (only my oldest is old enough to do her own) and we do it by running around the last night before they’re due trying to remember who read what.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, both as a parent and as a former English teacher. The logs are a pain the butt, and I think they end up making something fun into a chore more than they end up pushing kids who need it. Frankly I used contracts with kids who needed the push, because the last thing I wanted to do as a teacher was to cause a child to lose their sense of enjoyment from reading. I fill out their logs at this point (only my oldest is old enough to do her own) and we do it by running around the last night before they’re due trying to remember who read what.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, both as a parent and as a former English teacher. The logs are a pain the butt, and I think they end up making something fun into a chore more than they end up pushing kids who need it. Frankly I used contracts with kids who needed the push, because the last thing I wanted to do as a teacher was to cause a child to lose their sense of enjoyment from reading. I fill out their logs at this point (only my oldest is old enough to do her own) and we do it by running around the last night before they’re due trying to remember who read what.
Our elementary school practices a program called ‘take home reading’ where once a week, all the kids in a grade will select 5-6 books from their color level to take home and read themselves. Often there are parent volunteers on take home reading days, and the kids will practice reading out loud to the parent in small groups. It’s a fabulous system in practice, but as my voracious reader has progressed in his reading skills, he no longer enjoys reading the ‘baby’ books he’s offered at school. Consequently he’d select them, read them all that afternoon (I’d never see them) and they wouldn’t get sent back the following week. Or rather, they’d stay in his backpack the entire week and he’d forget to turn them in (and I wouldn’t sign off that he read them because, hello, he’s reading 400pg chapter books in 2nd grade, he doesn’t need an intro level ‘I can read’ book). So, I’d get scolding notes from his teachers about him not participating in the program.
Reading is such a personal act; both based on interest and skill level, that it’s hard to tailor a teaching method that would work for everyone in a class. I just wish the teacher he had last year would challenge the kids who were up for it, instead of trying to offer the easy route to everyone. We’ll see what 3rd grade brings this year.
Our elementary school practices a program called ‘take home reading’ where once a week, all the kids in a grade will select 5-6 books from their color level to take home and read themselves. Often there are parent volunteers on take home reading days, and the kids will practice reading out loud to the parent in small groups. It’s a fabulous system in practice, but as my voracious reader has progressed in his reading skills, he no longer enjoys reading the ‘baby’ books he’s offered at school. Consequently he’d select them, read them all that afternoon (I’d never see them) and they wouldn’t get sent back the following week. Or rather, they’d stay in his backpack the entire week and he’d forget to turn them in (and I wouldn’t sign off that he read them because, hello, he’s reading 400pg chapter books in 2nd grade, he doesn’t need an intro level ‘I can read’ book). So, I’d get scolding notes from his teachers about him not participating in the program.
Reading is such a personal act; both based on interest and skill level, that it’s hard to tailor a teaching method that would work for everyone in a class. I just wish the teacher he had last year would challenge the kids who were up for it, instead of trying to offer the easy route to everyone. We’ll see what 3rd grade brings this year.
Our elementary school practices a program called ‘take home reading’ where once a week, all the kids in a grade will select 5-6 books from their color level to take home and read themselves. Often there are parent volunteers on take home reading days, and the kids will practice reading out loud to the parent in small groups. It’s a fabulous system in practice, but as my voracious reader has progressed in his reading skills, he no longer enjoys reading the ‘baby’ books he’s offered at school. Consequently he’d select them, read them all that afternoon (I’d never see them) and they wouldn’t get sent back the following week. Or rather, they’d stay in his backpack the entire week and he’d forget to turn them in (and I wouldn’t sign off that he read them because, hello, he’s reading 400pg chapter books in 2nd grade, he doesn’t need an intro level ‘I can read’ book). So, I’d get scolding notes from his teachers about him not participating in the program.
Reading is such a personal act; both based on interest and skill level, that it’s hard to tailor a teaching method that would work for everyone in a class. I just wish the teacher he had last year would challenge the kids who were up for it, instead of trying to offer the easy route to everyone. We’ll see what 3rd grade brings this year.
Our elementary school practices a program called ‘take home reading’ where once a week, all the kids in a grade will select 5-6 books from their color level to take home and read themselves. Often there are parent volunteers on take home reading days, and the kids will practice reading out loud to the parent in small groups. It’s a fabulous system in practice, but as my voracious reader has progressed in his reading skills, he no longer enjoys reading the ‘baby’ books he’s offered at school. Consequently he’d select them, read them all that afternoon (I’d never see them) and they wouldn’t get sent back the following week. Or rather, they’d stay in his backpack the entire week and he’d forget to turn them in (and I wouldn’t sign off that he read them because, hello, he’s reading 400pg chapter books in 2nd grade, he doesn’t need an intro level ‘I can read’ book). So, I’d get scolding notes from his teachers about him not participating in the program.
Reading is such a personal act; both based on interest and skill level, that it’s hard to tailor a teaching method that would work for everyone in a class. I just wish the teacher he had last year would challenge the kids who were up for it, instead of trying to offer the easy route to everyone. We’ll see what 3rd grade brings this year.
I’m an educator, working with economically disadvantaged children. many of these kids don’t have access to books, and don’t have parent who don’t value reading, can’t even read themselves. So, as much as it pains me, I’m okay with required reading, sign off sheets for reading, and – gasp! – the summer reading breakfast. (I can’t stand candy as a reward, but a healthy breakfast, especially for kids who don’t usually get one, is okay with me.)
However, for my own kids, it makes me crazy. From a young age, we started teaching our kids about Civil Disobedience. Every Martin Luther King Day, we talk with our kids (now 9 and 6) about how MLK broke the law, knowing that he would be punished, but was happy to accept the punishment because he thought it was an unjust law. Little do they know that we’re preparing them to “conscientiously object” to things like mundane homework and reading logs. They can say, “I don’t want to do this – I don’t think it is appropriate for me” as long as they are willing to take the punishment.
Yes, we do laugh at ourselves, and know that we are completely ridiculous!
I’m an educator, working with economically disadvantaged children. many of these kids don’t have access to books, and don’t have parent who don’t value reading, can’t even read themselves. So, as much as it pains me, I’m okay with required reading, sign off sheets for reading, and – gasp! – the summer reading breakfast. (I can’t stand candy as a reward, but a healthy breakfast, especially for kids who don’t usually get one, is okay with me.)
However, for my own kids, it makes me crazy. From a young age, we started teaching our kids about Civil Disobedience. Every Martin Luther King Day, we talk with our kids (now 9 and 6) about how MLK broke the law, knowing that he would be punished, but was happy to accept the punishment because he thought it was an unjust law. Little do they know that we’re preparing them to “conscientiously object” to things like mundane homework and reading logs. They can say, “I don’t want to do this – I don’t think it is appropriate for me” as long as they are willing to take the punishment.
Yes, we do laugh at ourselves, and know that we are completely ridiculous!
I’m an educator, working with economically disadvantaged children. many of these kids don’t have access to books, and don’t have parent who don’t value reading, can’t even read themselves. So, as much as it pains me, I’m okay with required reading, sign off sheets for reading, and – gasp! – the summer reading breakfast. (I can’t stand candy as a reward, but a healthy breakfast, especially for kids who don’t usually get one, is okay with me.)
However, for my own kids, it makes me crazy. From a young age, we started teaching our kids about Civil Disobedience. Every Martin Luther King Day, we talk with our kids (now 9 and 6) about how MLK broke the law, knowing that he would be punished, but was happy to accept the punishment because he thought it was an unjust law. Little do they know that we’re preparing them to “conscientiously object” to things like mundane homework and reading logs. They can say, “I don’t want to do this – I don’t think it is appropriate for me” as long as they are willing to take the punishment.
Yes, we do laugh at ourselves, and know that we are completely ridiculous!
I’m an educator, working with economically disadvantaged children. many of these kids don’t have access to books, and don’t have parent who don’t value reading, can’t even read themselves. So, as much as it pains me, I’m okay with required reading, sign off sheets for reading, and – gasp! – the summer reading breakfast. (I can’t stand candy as a reward, but a healthy breakfast, especially for kids who don’t usually get one, is okay with me.)
However, for my own kids, it makes me crazy. From a young age, we started teaching our kids about Civil Disobedience. Every Martin Luther King Day, we talk with our kids (now 9 and 6) about how MLK broke the law, knowing that he would be punished, but was happy to accept the punishment because he thought it was an unjust law. Little do they know that we’re preparing them to “conscientiously object” to things like mundane homework and reading logs. They can say, “I don’t want to do this – I don’t think it is appropriate for me” as long as they are willing to take the punishment.
Yes, we do laugh at ourselves, and know that we are completely ridiculous!
Just be glad you don’t live in DC where we are now paying middle school students for good grades. Yeesh!
Just be glad you don’t live in DC where we are now paying middle school students for good grades. Yeesh!
Just be glad you don’t live in DC where we are now paying middle school students for good grades. Yeesh!
Just be glad you don’t live in DC where we are now paying middle school students for good grades. Yeesh!
I’m with you, Devra. Not a fan of the reading logs. I have a rising first grader who is already reading well above grade level — but even for her I worry that mandating a certain level of reading (because even when it’s technically optional she wants to please the teacher) has slowed down her enthusiasm for reading as a pleasurable activity. I can only imagine what a chore it is for the kids who really struggle to read.
I do recognize that in some cases the reading log ensures that kids who wouldn’t otherwise read get practice time. So it probably is a necessary evil. But still: an EVIL.
I’m with you, Devra. Not a fan of the reading logs. I have a rising first grader who is already reading well above grade level — but even for her I worry that mandating a certain level of reading (because even when it’s technically optional she wants to please the teacher) has slowed down her enthusiasm for reading as a pleasurable activity. I can only imagine what a chore it is for the kids who really struggle to read.
I do recognize that in some cases the reading log ensures that kids who wouldn’t otherwise read get practice time. So it probably is a necessary evil. But still: an EVIL.
I’m with you, Devra. Not a fan of the reading logs. I have a rising first grader who is already reading well above grade level — but even for her I worry that mandating a certain level of reading (because even when it’s technically optional she wants to please the teacher) has slowed down her enthusiasm for reading as a pleasurable activity. I can only imagine what a chore it is for the kids who really struggle to read.
I do recognize that in some cases the reading log ensures that kids who wouldn’t otherwise read get practice time. So it probably is a necessary evil. But still: an EVIL.
I’m with you, Devra. Not a fan of the reading logs. I have a rising first grader who is already reading well above grade level — but even for her I worry that mandating a certain level of reading (because even when it’s technically optional she wants to please the teacher) has slowed down her enthusiasm for reading as a pleasurable activity. I can only imagine what a chore it is for the kids who really struggle to read.
I do recognize that in some cases the reading log ensures that kids who wouldn’t otherwise read get practice time. So it probably is a necessary evil. But still: an EVIL.