Yesterday was just crazy. Between 5:50pm and 7:30pm we had to be a million places at once.  I am usually very protective of this time of day so everyone was really thrown for a loop. During all the running around we talked about the fact that I would be happy to write a note to Caroline’s teacher id she was unable to complete her reading log for the night. We have done this in the past and her teacher has been more than flexible and understanding . I figured I had at least that part of the evening under control.

Fast forward to Caroline actually having time to read and then refusing to fill out the reading log saying,  “Reading logs are dumb.”

Now, I happen to agree with Caroline and I’ve had a lengthy conversation with her teacher about just this topic. I have also talked with the teachers I work with, other principals and my friends. I’ve probably even talked about it with people I hardly know. It’s one of those things for me.

I believe professionally that children should log their independent reading time in school. It’s important for teachers to see what children are reading, how long it’s taking them to read and what books they stick with and which they abandon. And I believe both personally and professionally that it’s important for children to be held accountable to their reading at home as well. Reading at home is such a majorly important part of becoming a reader.

But… I do not believe that children should complete reading logs at home. When was the last time that you read a good book snuggled under your covers and then wrote down the time you started and finished reading and the number of pages you had read? Obviously, the answer is never.

I strongly believe that reading at home should be an authentic and enjoyable experience. I think that reading logs are a turn off for the non-readers and are completely unnecessary for the readers. I think that children should be talking about their books, recommending them to others or finding out more information about the author on-line. I think children should be doing exactly what adults do when they finish a good book. And that is not completing a reading log.

So blog readers, log your opinion below…