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Reading Logs: Examples, lessons, and scaffolding

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Reading Logs: Examples, lessons, and scaffolding

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Reading Logs: Examples, lessons, and scaffolding | Inclusive Classrooms Project

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Reading logs serve multiple purposes. It serves as a tool to track student accountability in an independent reading program, by asking them to record the amount of time they spend reading and the number of pages they have read.

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How Reading Logs Can 🤬 The Love Of Reading

AND WHAT TEACHERS AND PARENTS CAN DO INSTEAD

by: Andrea Nair

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It is well documented that the benefits of regular reading are profound. Studies have shown that reading improves everything from a person's language, academic, speech, communication, and writing skills to reducing stress, improving concentration, expanding vocabulary, and allowing us to be lost in another world. Reading is relaxing entertainment that grows brains!

Given the power of this one activity to significantly change a person's life, it is not surprising that teachers try to encourage their students to read by asking them to complete reading logs. Unfortunately, though, with a teacher's good intentions notwithstanding, forcing a person to complete a reading log can actually do the opposite of what it is intended to do. Reading logs can make children want to stop reading. Here's why.

There's this phenomenon that happens in a person's mind called counterwill. Austrian psychoanalyst, Otto Rank, first coined this term, but Gordon Neufeld, PhD has normalized this word in parenting education circles to explain what happens when you perceive that someone is trying to coerce you into doing something. Children who are " misbehaving " or "strong-willed" are usually experiencing counterwill.

Counterwill is a resistance force -it makes us do the opposite of what we are being told to do. The interesting thing is that counterwill is actually an instinctual drive that has safety benefits. This instinct's purpose is to keep children safe and help them develop individuality as they get older.

It is the drive that stops a child from doing what a person with ill intentions wants him or her to do, and is the internal permission to have individual thoughts and feelings. It's the voice in your head saying, "Don't believe that man who needs help looking for his puppy. Run away!" It's also the drive that stirs thoughts like, "I hate this activity. Hey, guess what? I can stop doing it-you're not the boss of me!"

The bond between a parent and a child (and a teacher and a child) is the most important factor in a child's development, and significantly influences his or her behaviour. When children feel "attached" to their caregiver, they want to follow that adult's lead, and are less driven to be resistant.

Counterwill happens when an adult's requests are too big for the attachment connection to sustain. A child is less likely to take direction from someone whom she doesn't feel connected with.

The same kind of counterwill resistance happens with activities like reading logs (and many kinds of homework-the "busy work" kind). When sitting down to read, feeling ready and able to do that while thinking, "I can't wait to find out what happens next," we stimulate the brain growth and relaxation parts of our mind. When we feel pressure to complete one chapter or thirty minutes as prescribed by someone else who we may or may not feel connected to, the thinking turns to, "I don't want to do this now, but I have to. I hate this." The sense of freedom, of feeling in control, gets squashed, which cranks up resistance. A person can force him or herself to complete a task as long as the benefit or connection to the person asking is felt, but once the I hate this and you can't make me tipping point is reached, counterwill kicks in.

As Alfie Kohn described in this interesting post called, " How to Create Nonreaders," parents report that children who usually love getting lost in a book who are expected to read for a certain amount of time each night then record that on paper, begin looking at reading as a chore rather than something to enjoy. They actually stop reading for fun.

When children are told how much to read, they sometimes zip through the pages, not really absorbing the story or information, just so they can get to the assigned page number to end at so they can stop. Forcing a child to read can stir counterwill, which instinctually will tell them not to do it.

What can parents and teachers do to foster the natural love of reading?

Firstly, don't force it.

Stop making children read.

*Let your children/students see you reading.

Lead by example. Pick up a book and show your enthusiasm for reading by talking about why you are excited to read a certain book in particular. With older children, you can talk about the elements of storytelling, like plot and character development or the setting, saying something like, "The author has me on pins and needles! How did she do that?"

Let your kids see you taking time to read each day. *This is the most important one.

Create a reading environment that feels comfortable to read in.

If the classroom space allows, teachers can ask parents if they have large cushions, area rugs, comfy sofas, or chairs to donate. Arrange them in a separate space, so it feels more like a living room than a classroom. Students can take turns using this comfortable reading space.

At home, parents can create screen-free zones with furniture that makes it easy to sit for a while without getting a sore bottom. Turn the radios, TVs, and other screens off for good chunks of time.

Go to the library regularly.

Take your children to your school or local library, steer them into their age/interest-appropriate aisles and allow them to pick the books. Do this each week or every second week. I know that life can get very busy-try to put this at the top of the priority list.

Provide choice and freedom.

Parents, ask your child what she would like in the house or in her room to make reading more enjoyable? A special pillow? Funky bookshelf?

Teachers, caringly ask your students what would make their reading time more enjoyable. This is a great counterwill reduction question: "What do you need to in order make reading a good thing?" I know you might have a big class, but do what you can so each child feels heard on their answer to that question. Some do better with music (this might be the only time you allow headphones), some do better with their feet intertwined with others, or perhaps in a pillow fort. Let students pick their book within the parameters you create.

Set a variety of books out where the kids can see them.

Have books as part of your décor. Find an organized way to have books around, making it easy for kids to pick one up.

Learn more about your child or student's interests, providing books to expand knowledge in those areas.

Host a kid-version book club.

Mimic adult book clubs by having a group of kids pick the book they want to read-let members of the group suggest books to choose from. As adults do, pick a day to have the book read by (although we don't always finish it, do we?!) and on that day, bring some snacks and drinks in and chat about the book. Book chats can replace book reports, which can also be reading killers.

Invite authors to come speak in your classroom.

We live in a small city, yet there are many authors in our midst. There are poets, fiction, nonfiction, and children's authors living nearby. As a writer, I love invitations to speak at schools, and do so as much as my schedule allows. It doesn't hurt to ask an author if he or she has time to visit.

Be creative with reading activities.

As I outlined in a post I wrote called, " Growing Your Child's Interest In Reading," the love of reading can be fostered in unusual ways- reading recipes, road-signs, writing poetry, memorizing song lyrics. Get creative!
If you liked this, you might also like: "How To Help Your Child Through A Compromised State" and "Your Go-To Great Parenting Facebook Pages." I continually post parenting and teaching resources on my Facebook page, so I welcome you over there to ask questions, cheer each other on, and learn more.

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How Reading Logs Can Kill The Love Of Reading

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It is well documented that the benefits of regular reading are profound. Studies have shown that reading improves everything from a person's language, academic, speech, communication, and writing skills to reducing stress, improving concentration, expanding vocabulary, and allowing us to be lost in another world. Reading is relaxing entertainment that grows brains!

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How to Ensure You Have Reading Accountability Without Using Reading Logs

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How to Ensure You Have Reading Accountability Without Using Reading Logs

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Goodbye Reading Log: 5 Tips to Keep Readers AccountableBy Juan Gonzalez

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Goodbye Reading Log: 5 Tips to Keep Readers AccountableBy Juan Gonzalez

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4 Must-Know Tips to Keep Readers On Track

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Scholastic shares tips to keep readers on track with one-on-one reading conferences, graphic organizers, discussions about reading, and book talks.

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Reading logs, reading blahs  Dr. Joanne Meier

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Reading logs, reading blahs  Dr. Joanne Meier

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Reading logs, reading blahs | Reading Rockets

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Many of us are back to school by now. And for most of us, that means daily reading logs, where a parent signs a log each night confirming that her child has read at home that day. For us, we're on day five, and we're already a little bored.

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Reading Logs: IntegratingExtensive Readingwith Writing Tasks

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Reading Logs: IntegratingExtensive Readingwith Writing Tasks

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In Defense of the Reading LogBy Leah Singer

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In Defense of the Reading LogBy Leah Singer

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It seems that every year when back-to-school season rolls around, the "death to the reading log" posts start making their way online. The main argument from the parents urging the reading log's demise is that forcing kids to track nightly reading destroys an innate love of reading. Additionally, the logs have been called a sham because some parents make the decision not to require their children to read each night and, as a result, falsify the reading log.

My daughter, Sophie, started second grade, and sure enough, the reading log was in her homework folder. This was not a new requirement, as we've had our share of reading logs the last few years of elementary school. Each night, Sophie is required to read at home and I initial next to the book or chapter she read. I view this nightly reading requirement as part of her homework routine.

So as we get our kids back into their school schedules, here are some thoughts that address the negativity surrounding the reading log.

First, let's look at the claim that forcing kids to read will destroy an innate love of books and turn our sons and daughters into clock-watchers. I think most parents would agree that when kids are forced to do anything, they will likely revolt. So while they may not enjoy being "forced" to read for a timed period, they are rebelling against the fact that they're being told what to do -- not the reading itself.

It's also important to remember that not every child has an innate love of reading. The reading logs are especially important for those kids who do not opt to read on their own, yet still need nightly practice. In this circumstance, the log can be a helpful tool for parents to get a daily glimpse into their student's reading life and track their progress.

The behavior of not wanting to do what's being forced is not unique to kids, either. How many of us enjoy doing something, but when required to perform the action, scoff at completing it? I may enjoy exercising, but when I'm told to complete 20 minutes on the treadmill, guess who is staring at the clock the entire time, waiting for the minutes to tick by?

Second, the fact is that nightly reading is required homework, just like the math sheets and other assigned projects. Homework isn't fun, but it's required and students are expected to have it done when they enter the classroom each day. Do parents tell their kids they don't have to turn in the other homework assignments? I'm guessing not. So why is it OK not to do the reading?

Third, and the issue I find most disturbing, is that many individuals who don't agree with the daily reading log practice admit to falsely initialing the logs, even if the child has not read that day, or completed the required period of time. This action goes beyond simply disagreeing with the reading log practice; it's essentially teaching kids that dishonesty is OK.

If parents are truly against this requirement and don't want to record entries, they should simply not do it and inform the teacher of that decision. Will the child's grade suffer because he is not doing the required homework? Perhaps. And on that note, parents need to be ready to take responsibility for any grade drop that happens because of the decision.

I'm sure we can all agree that parenting is a tough (and often thankless) job. No mom or dad wants to hear their kid complain about homework -- or being forced to do something they don't want to do -- every night. So perhaps use this assignment as a tool to teach kids about time management and responsibility, and a way to let them practice the work they learned in school.

Better yet, make the required reading a time during which parents and their children read together -- either by reading a different book yourself at the same time, or reading aloud from a chapter book to your kid. This type of activity not only promotes reading (and fulfills the homework requirement), but is also an opportunity for parents and kids to bond over books.

The most important thing, however, is to understand that the log is not designed as a torture device. It's a teaching tool to -- quite simply -- help kids read.

Also on HuffPost:

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It seems that every year when back-to-school season rolls around, the "death to the reading log" posts start making their way online. The main argument from the parents urging the reading log's demise is that forcing kids to track nightly reading destroys an innate love of reading.

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On Reading Logs: But How Do You Know If They're Reading?By Jessica Lifshitz,

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On Reading Logs: But How Do You Know If They're Reading?By Jessica Lifshitz,