The mornings during the school year are often a whirlwind of activity. Even though the school bell rings at 9 a.m., there’s always a last-minute rush to get the kids out the door. Today was no exception; I had to wake my youngest son, the family’s sleepyhead, just 10 minutes before they needed to leave. Breakfast consisted of a hastily devoured Eggo, followed by a quick teeth brushing, and then there was the dreaded reading log that had somehow been forgotten.
I truly can’t express how much I detest—no, abhor—reading logs. My kids aren’t exactly enthusiastic readers, but they do enjoy reading in small bursts after school while waiting for their friends to finish homework, during car rides to church, and in bed before they drift off to sleep. The problem? We are all terrible at keeping track of their reading times. Who actually times themselves while reading and then jots down the minutes? Not anyone in our home, I assure you.
What should be a delightful and enriching experience morphs into a tedious task filled with nagging (that’s me) and tears (theirs). Instead of immersing themselves in captivating stories, they’re anxiously eyeing the clock, merely trying to complete a school requirement. Rather than savoring the joy of reading, I find myself constantly reminding them to fill out their logs, or I feel guilty for neglecting the log altogether.
I understand the good intentions behind reading logs; teachers want to instill strong reading habits, hence the daily reading targets. However, far too often, these noble intentions backfire, transforming what should be a pleasurable learning experience into a burdensome task.
Research indicates that such external pressures—like reading logs—can diminish genuine interest in reading. According to an article in The Atlantic, a study published in the Journal of Research in Education found that reading logs can adversely affect students’ enthusiasm for and attitudes toward reading. This rings true in our household.
The authors noted, “When reading is portrayed as something one has to be forced to do, students may conclude that it isn’t an activity they wish to engage in during their free time.” Last year, we struggled to maintain the monthly reading logs, often resorting to guesswork about how much time was spent reading. The lack of accurate recording felt dishonest, and I grew uncomfortable with the idea of letting them “fudge” their logs just to meet requirements. It just didn’t feel right, so we abandoned the whole endeavor.
Interestingly, neither of my sons’ teachers seemed to notice the absence of their reading logs, which suggests that even educators may not place much emphasis on them. In fact, many teachers are moving away from using reading logs altogether.
As for this school year, I remain uncertain about the future of reading logs in our home. Part of me wonders if they might somehow inspire my kids to read more, but let’s face it—what are the odds?
If you’re looking for more insights into parenting and related topics, check out IVF Babble, a fantastic resource for pregnancy and home insemination. And while you’re at it, you can explore these fertility supplements to boost your chances of conception.
In summary, reading logs, while intended to promote good habits, often turn reading into a chore rather than a joy, creating undue stress for both children and parents.
Leave a Reply