School mornings are often a whirlwind of activity. Even though the first bell rings at 9 a.m., there’s always a mad dash to get the kids out the door. This morning was no different; I had to wake my younger son, the family’s notorious late riser, a mere 10 minutes before they needed to leave, which led to him wolfing down an Eggo and rushing through brushing his teeth.
And then there was the dreaded reading log that needed to be filled out. I can’t express just how much I despise — no, absolutely detest — these reading logs.
While neither of my children can be classified as avid readers, they do enjoy reading in short bursts. They read while waiting for friends to finish their homework, during car rides to church on Sundays, and even in bed as they drift off to sleep. The problem? We’re all terrible at keeping track of when they read. Who really wants to time their reading sessions and jot down the minutes? Not us!
What should be a delightful and enriching experience quickly turns into a tedious task filled with nagging (from me) and tears (from them). Instead of immersing themselves in a captivating story, they’re anxiously watching the clock, wishing for the session to end. The joy of reading is replaced by a checklist mentality, and I often find myself feeling guilty for either forgetting the log or pestering them to keep track.
I get that the intention behind reading logs is positive; teachers aim to instill good reading habits by setting daily goals. However, these well-meaning efforts often backfire, transforming what should be an enjoyable activity into a burdensome chore.
Research has shown that external pressures, like reading logs, can diminish genuine interest in reading. A study highlighted in The Atlantic revealed that reading logs might negatively impact students’ enthusiasm and attitudes toward reading. This rings true in our household.
The authors of the study noted, “When reading is presented as something one must be compelled to do, students may conclude that it’s not an activity they wish to pursue in their leisure time.”
Last year, we adhered to the monthly reading logs with a mixture of coaxing and frustration until I reached my limit. Due to reading sessions taking place in bed, we often forgot to log the times, and days would slip by without any entries. To meet the school’s expectations, we resorted to guessing which days they read and for how long. Let’s be honest, this wasn’t exactly an accurate representation of their reading habits.
Eventually, I started feeling like our attempts were breeding dishonesty. Allowing them to “fudge” details for the sake of an assignment felt wrong. What kind of message was I sending? It didn’t sit well, so we ditched the whole process.
Interestingly, neither of my sons’ teachers seemed to notice their missing reading logs, which makes me wonder if teachers truly value them. There’s even a growing number of educators who have completely abandoned reading logs.
As for this year, we’re just one week into the reading logs, and I’m trying to remain optimistic. Perhaps this time they’ll inspire my children to read more. Or, who am I kidding?
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Summary
Reading logs can turn the enjoyable activity of reading into a stressful chore filled with pressure and guilt. Despite their well-meaning intentions, they often diminish children’s natural interest in reading and create a frustrating experience for families.