Updated: Sep. 13, 2018
Originally Published: Oct. 1, 2016
Ah, the morning routine during the school year—a delightful blend of chaos and frantic energy. Even though the school bell doesn’t toll until 9 a.m., we’re always scrambling to get the kids out the door. This morning was no exception. I had to wake my younger son, the family’s resident snoozer, just 10 minutes before we needed to leave, which meant he was downing an Eggo and hastily brushing his teeth in record time.
And let’s not forget about the reading log that needed attention. Words can hardly capture how much I despise—no, detest—those reading charts.
Neither of my kids can be classified as avid readers, but they do manage to read. They sneak in a few pages after school while waiting for their friends to finish their homework, read during our Sunday drives to church, and even indulge in books before drifting off to sleep. The snag? None of us are particularly adept at keeping track of when they read. Who, honestly, times themselves while lost in a book and then jots down the minutes? Not a soul in our household.
What should be a delightful and educational pursuit quickly devolves into a burdensome task filled with endless reminders from me and plenty of tears from them. Instead of immersing themselves in captivating stories, they’re anxiously watching the clock, counting down the minutes until the obligation is over. Rather than enjoying the reading experience, they’re merely ticking off a box for school. And instead of cherishing those moments spent with a good book, I’m left feeling guilty for either forgetting about the log or hounding them to keep track.
I get the intention behind assignments like reading logs. Teachers aim to cultivate good reading habits, hence the daily reading goals. However, the noble intentions often backfire, transforming what should be a fun learning experience into a tedious chore.
This isn’t just a struggle for our family either. Numerous studies indicate that external pressures like reading logs can actually dampen intrinsic motivation. As noted in The Atlantic, a study from the Journal of Research in Education revealed that reading logs could have a negative impact on students’ enthusiasm for reading.
It certainly rings true in our home. “When reading is framed as a chore,” the study points out, “students might conclude that it’s not an activity they want to engage in during their free time.”
Last year, we tried to keep up with our monthly reading logs, fueled by a mix of gentle persuasion and relentless nagging, until I finally threw in the towel halfway through the school year. Since my kids often read in bed, time went unrecorded, and before long, days passed without a completed log. To meet expectations, we ended up making our best “guess” about reading days and durations, but let’s be real—this was far from accurate.
Eventually, I felt like this process was breeding dishonesty. If I was letting them “fudge” the details just to turn in an assignment, what kind of message was I sending? It felt wrong, so we ditched the whole thing. Interestingly, neither of my sons’ teachers seemed to notice the absence of those logs, which makes me wonder if they truly care about them. In fact, there’s a growing number of educators who have abandoned reading logs altogether.
As for this school year? Well, it’s still early days. We’re just a week into the reading logs, and I’m trying to maintain a positive outlook. Maybe this time around they’ll actually inspire my kids to read more? Perhaps this will be the motivation they need.
Oh, who am I kidding?
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Summary
Reading logs can transform the joy of reading into a burdensome task, leading to stress and dishonesty. While they’re intended to promote good reading habits, the pressure can squash intrinsic motivation. As we navigate this school year’s reading logs, I remain skeptical of their effectiveness.