As an instructional coach, I have seen reading logs (or on-line blogs) used in classrooms very successfully. All of the things mentioned below are critical. I would also throw in that response (either teacher:student, another adult:student or student:student) is critical in using response logs. I've seen students asked to respond, but whether or not they receive feedback is crucial to their continued willingness to respond and motivation to put forth a strong effort. It can make or break this practice. I remember in college being a student who would put a lot of time and effort into carefully crafting a response to a reading assignment, field experience, etc.. only to receive a vague check mark at the top of my paper, indicating to me only that the professor had noted that it had been turned in. I remember feeling robbed and, of course, totally unmotivated to put equal effort into the next assignment. I'm sure our young students feel much the same way when this happens. I know most everyone realizes this, but if reading logs aren't working well, this might be something to look at. I agree . . . don't give up. It is incredibly rewarding to develop this relationship with students through written logs and allows us insight into how they're thinking about books.
-----Original Message----- From: Palmer, Jennifer <jennifer.pal...@hcps.org> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Sent: Mon, Jul 18, 2011 3:29 am Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] reading logs First... Do they have reading material available? Do you spend a couple minutes in book talks to build interest in a book then allow kids to take that book home? Do you allow kids a few minutes to do their own book talks? I'd suggest bringing technology in... Allow kids to post about their nightly reading on a wiki or create a book commercial podcast Second... It may be time to build some urgency. Have they been taught (not told...my word choice is deliberate here) why time spent reading will help them. Third... I would allow reading materials other than books. I teach a similar population.., not saying this is easy... Dont give up. It's too important. Sent from my iPhone On Jul 18, 2011, at 2:04 AM, "da...@aol.com" <da...@aol.com> wrote: > > Hello, > > I would greatly appreciate your thoughts about the use of reading logs in my sixth grade reading/writing workshop. My homework policy is that students read 30 minutes 5 nights a week or 150 minutes a week. They are free to read any book they choose. I give students a reading log, due every Monday, that asks them to document the minutes they read nightly, I ask them to write about their independent reading weekly, based on the strategies and or elements of literature we were studying. I maintain a classroom library and students have access to the school library every 2 weeks. My problem is that my homework completion rate is TERRIBLE. Rather , I should say that fewer than 50% of my students regularly turn in their homework. Atwell, Miller, and many, many other language arts teachers consider reading at home an important part of their reading program. I am tempted to drop the the reading log requiremnent, but I don't want to "dumb down" my expectations for my students who are predominantly blue collar and poor. I want students to have some accountability, but at the same time I don't want to make the homework process so cumbersome that it turns my students off to reading independently. What are your experiences and insights that can help? Thank you. > > Darlene Kellum > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
