Reading logs - again......

[amcal]

Our school does reading logs. I hate them but, they're part of the program. They ask that the children read 100 hours per school year which averages out to 15 minutes a day.

My oldest obsesses about the log. She worries about it, worries that if she read 45 minutes one day and nothing the next that she's not following the rules. NO matter how much I try to reassure her, she stresses over it. So, I've taken it away from her and told her that I will log her hours. This kid reads way over the requirement so, I just fill in what I think and let it go.

However, my younger daughter doesn't care for reading. She's a very good reader and is in advanced reading in school but, she says "it's boring". We've tried 101 different types of books but, honestly, she's just lazy. She just can't be bothered. She'd rather sit and do nothing than read.

So, because I despise reading logs, I had taken her log too and was just filling it out because in the past, she probably came close to meeting the goal since when she did read, she'd read 30 - 40 minutes at a time.

However, the past two months, she just won't read. Or if she does, she'll read a minute or two and then quit.

So, I don't want this to be a struggle anymore. I've told her I will not lie for her on her reading log so, for the last several days, I put zeros on her reading calendar. I've told her that she will just have to figure it out with her teacher.

Right? Wrong? I don't know..... I hate that reading is such a chore for her. It's so hard for me to see that she reads so well yet refuses to do it.

Maybe I should just give her her reading log back and she can be responsible for it (I still have to initial every day).

Oh and we've tried a variety of books, a variety of levels, she gets to choose any books she wants, we go to bookstores, library etc... Nothing works.

[lara1828]

Is there a consequence for not logging the 100 hours? If so, does she understand it?

Assuming there's no dire consequence (like failing the grade), I'd personally probably just keep filling in the zeros and drop any pressure. It takes two people to make a power struggle, KWIM? If she's advanced compared to her peers, who cares? I'm sure she's doing plenty of reading at school and "inadvertently" reading things around her at home and elsewhere.

Does she still let you read aloud to her? If so, and you're careful not to create pressure around it, it could be a way to get her interested.

HTH,

Lara

[meemee]

how does the school handle that?

my dd didnt either in K. i didnt really put a lot of importance to it and neither did the teacher. seh knew my dd could read but just wasnt into it.

my dd didnt start reading for herself till she started first grade. but we never did teh 15 mins every night rule. ever. neither did i conscientously fill out the log.

the teacher did not say anything.

oh yeah those horrible phonics books. i totally lied on those. i tried talking to the teacher but i think she was following school policy. she wanted dd to read them 10 times. they HAD to be done. so i made dd read them at least twice and filled the others on my own.

[mammastar2]

Reading logs are frustrating!

I have an enthusiastic reader who devours books everyday, and now she's having to pull up and backtrack to fill in her log, sometimes days later. She gets very anxious about it, and frustrated. I find it irritating that they've taken something she loves to do and found a way to make it a chore...

The fact that the logs make it a chore is really the crux of the problem, I think. In your case, no matter how much you'd like your youngest to love reading and to want to give it a go, the "log" reinforces the fact that it is work and a chore and something she's 'supposed' to do. I definitely wouldn't fill it out for her, as in a lot of ways that gives it too much importance. Give it back to her, be very casual about the fact that she should jot down the amount of any reading she does, 'to keep track', and then completely de-emphasize it. No bribes, no show of concern, nothing, other than continuing to expose her to opportunities to choose to read, and modelling your own enjoyment of reading. So far as your initialling it goes, if you have to, I'd probably just sneak it out of her backpack in the morning and initial it, nothing that involves her 'presenting' it to you for approval. You may want to send her teacher a note, "Just to let you know, we are de-emphasizing the reading log at home so that our daughter can focus on reading for interest rather than logging minutes as this seems to decrease her interest. Thanks for your understanding."

With the oldest, what you're doing now may be an ok work-around, but I'd at least make sure that she knows you know the reading log is kind of silly. "Gah! How crazy that they want you to log minutes - as if that's a measure of a true booklover."

[amcal]

The reward is that at the end of the year, those students who log 100 hours get a party of some sort - lasy year it was water day, sometimes it an ice cream social or pizza party.

mammastar - my oldest totally gets why I've taken her reading log. She knows I just want her to read for the love of reading and not worry so much about the time.

I think you're right about just giving her the log back and she can be responsible for it. Ugggg.....what a struggle!

[mammastar2]

Originally Posted by amcal

The reward is that at the end of the year, those students who log 100 hours get a party of some sort - lasy year it was water day, sometimes it an ice cream social or pizza party.

Argh! They probably mean well and don't get that they're sending the message that reading lacks intrinsic value and has to be logged like prison time, or offset by pizza and ice cream.

[Linda on the move]

Does being read to count for the reading log? What about listening to a book on CD?

I think that for a child who doesn't care for reading, being read to from wonderful books is far more important than being forced to read. When my kids were at *could* stage for reading but hadn't gotten the bug for it yet, they would get into a book that I was reading aloud and then finish it on their own rather than waiting for me to finish it at just one chapter a night.

As far as the reading log, I'd drop it. Fussing over it with her will only make things worse, and nothing bad happens if she doesn't do it.

[eepster]

I know this isn't what you asked, but...

Has she seen an eye Dr recently?

You say she is good at reading, and you've offered a wide variety of books, but yet she finds reading for pleasure hard. Eye strain while reading can be exhausting.

[pranamama]

I think Alfie Kohn has a couple good books that explain why intrinisic motivation is better than "chores".

[amcal]

eepster - yup - they get yearly eye exams. I started wearing glasses at 5 yrs old so I'm super careful about it. In fact, they were just there last month and *knock on wood* both have perfect vision.

pranamama - you know what's interesting? Last year we had a huge issue with a teacher who was so over the top in her reward system, I requested my kids be moved out of her class (for other reasons as well). During one of my conversations with the principal, she brought up Alfie Kohn as someone she's studied extensively. She completely believes in it but, refuses to dictate what each teacher can do in their class. She did step in last year with the over the top reward system but other than that, she won't outlaw reward systems in class.

[bobandjess99]

I guess I possibly disagree with your statement that she is just "lazy".
Just because you CAN do something, and are even GOOD at it, does not mean you LIKE it. And I think it is ABSOLUTELY normal to not want to do something that you dislike. I COULD be cleaning my kitchen right now.....LOL!!! I think the huge importance placed on reading is getting overexagerated, honestly. It's like reading is a moral good, a compass upon which the value of a person is measured. You also don't see other disciplines getting the same push that EVERY person should want to do them FOR FUN on a daily basis...really? EVERYONE should like to read for fun every day?
Why is it that a childs should read EVERY day, regardless of whether or not they like it? If she is reading at level, even above it, then she has the necesary mastery for her age. Is she forced to do any other activities for minutes every day, even after she has the required skills? Perhaps she is also doing daily math problems, daily geography drills, daily history lessons - not new ones, just more practice at the old ones she already has mastered?
Has anyone ever suggested that perhaps everyone should do math worksheets for 15 minutes per day, for "FUN", because it's good for you? no..because for whatever reason, it's reading that gets the huge push.

Anyway...I'm having a hard time putti what i want ot say into words. I'm not against reading. I think it is a skill everyone needss to have at a certain level. But not everyone needs to do it every day, supposedly for "fun". I love to read...woudl spend many more hours a day doing it than I already do, if Icould. But say...basketball? Loathe it. am horrible at it. derive no enjoyment at all from it, only unhappiness. I would FREAK out if someone tried to tell me I had to practice basketball for 15 minutes per day. And then, as a bonus, was going to pretty much base their evaluation of my worth as a person, as a student, of my attitude, of my work ethic as a whole, on that particular activity.
She just doesn't like it. And I know that personally, if i don't like something, I don't want to do it. She doesn't want to read...so what? As long as she keeps up with the necesary reading level, who gives a flying rats tail whether or not she does it 15 minutes per day or only when absolutely required?

[pranamama]

my dd's teacher said they were being faked at the end of the month, LOL so she wanted the kids to start writing down the titles not just the minutes, Now who would just write down 15 minutes for every day, LOL

[EFmom]

Originally Posted by pranamama

my dd's teacher said they were being faked at the end of the month, LOL so she wanted the kids to start writing down the titles not just the minutes, Now who would just write down 15 minutes for every day, LOL

Because it would be so very difficult to fake the logs by adding in titles, right... (BTDT, and it's really not too tough)

[amcal]

bobandjess - unfortunately, being lazy is a state of being for my DD. Some kids just are. She will do anything and everything she can to get out of any activity that requires effort. Knowing that she's lazy doesn't mean anything other than I recognize this as a personality trait of hers and it requires different parenting methods than those required to parent a self motivated child.

Unfortunately, reading is homework. I don't necessarily agree with it but, in this life, we're not always going to be able to do or not do whatever we want. That's not how life works. We all have responsibilities.

Plus, I don't think it's an unrealistic expectation. She doesn't struggle to read, it's not a difficult process, she just doesn't enjoy it. I get that. I don't enjoy laundry but, it's part of my job.

I'm also sorry but, I have no idea where you got the impression that reading makes her "morally good" or that her value is measured in any way by reading. I don't get that at all.

I do feel that being a strong reader is important. I may not use trigonometry every day but, I absolutely read every day. Reading is essential to school success. And, while I'm not thrilled with the 15 minute requirement, I do feel like she needs to be regularly reading.

That being said, I don't want to battle her with it either. I can not read for her. She has to find the value in it herself. But, in the mean time, I do feel it's my place to encourage her to read, not to force her, but to remind her of the requirement (which again, I don't find remotely excessive) and let her decide if the consequences are worth it.

Oh and there is plenty of reading time made available in our family. It takes us 15 minutes to get to school. My older daughter uses that time to read. I'm constantly suggesting to DD that is a quick and easy way to get her reading time done. She'd rather stare out the window than read.

We set aside reading time where I have my book, oldest DD has hers and we cuddle on the sofa. I always ask youngest DD to join us with her book - nope, she'd rather just sit and do nothing.

I ask her to read me a bedtime story - she'll read a page or two and then get "too tired".

[sunnmama]

Our school doesn't have a "reading log" (thank goodness), but do ask students to "read 20 minutes" every day.

BUT...it counts if the parent reads to the child. Or, if the child listens to a recorded book.

Could you read to your child 15 minutes a day and record those titles/minutes in the log? Maybe you read to her every day already? You wouldn't nec even need to explain it to the teacher, if you don't want to. The books are being read.

eta...if it is 15 min to get to school, play a recorded book in the car and use that title.

[LynnS6]

Do you still do bedtime stories? If you do, I'd count that. If you don't, I'd re-institute those as a pleasurable time to do reading. I agree fully that you don't want reading to become a chore. So, pick some books you like (since she doesn't seem to have developed a taste of her own) and read outloud to her while you cuddle. This is a great time to exposure her to books that are too advanced for her to read on her own, but have good stories. Sometimes the easier books have really boring stories, and the more advanced stuff is really cool.


How old is your younger daughter? What level is she reading at?

If she's reading below about a 3rd grade level, it might indeed be more of a chore than she likes. Our ds is like that. He CAN read at about a 5th or 6th grade level. He prefers to read things at a 3rd grade level. That's fine, now that he's in 3rd grade. But it was a real issue when he was in 1st grade and insisted that he couldn't read because it was too hard. So, we read together. he'd read for a few minutes, and then we'd read out loud. It's not exactly what the school had in mind, But hey, I wanted to make sure my kid likes reading. It worked. Two years later, he's an avid reader. BUT only at bedtime. He won't choose to read at other times. (Oh, and the other thing that dh did was to introduce him to computer games that required a fair amount of reading. It was surreptitious reading practice and it worked.)

[amcal]

My daugher is 6.5yrs old and in the 1st grade. She's reading at a 3rd grade level.

According to the class, reading to the child is acceptable for those children who struggle to read themselves.

I do read to her - we read stories every night. But, honestly, I don't think that counts once a child can read on their own.

I would count it if she would share the reading with me - she reads a page, I read a page - but, she won't even do that.

I know I could just lie on the form and not struggle with it. I'm not remotely concerned with following her around and documenting every moment she reads. Heck, if she read 5 minutes I'd call it good. The point for me is that this is a school assignment she refuses to do. And, I think reading is very important so I want to help her develop a love of reading. I don't set a timer for 15 minutes and force her to read. Any reading would be good to me but, she won't do any.

[Ellien C]

I hear what you are saying Amcal. We have similar things. My kid will not willingly join any activity - no soccer, no ballet, no music class. She scarcely wants to get out of the house - even to go shopping. SO unlike me. And she hasn't been that crazy about reading but it's getting better.

Anyway, I think this is just something to let go right now. She's young, she's developing her sense of self (sis is a big reader) and as she gets older, she'll read because her parents and family model and value reading. I don't think it's anything to be too concerned about right now.

Just put down the zeroes or the time you read to her.

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by amcal

I do read to her - we read stories every night. But, honestly, I don't think that counts once a child can read on their own.

I would count it if she would share the reading with me - she reads a page, I read a page - but, she won't even do that.
.

I think you should count it, even if that means not spelling it out to the teacher. Reading aloud to children dramatically helps them improve their reading skills, even when they are already moderately skilled readers.

In the end, reading is becoming a power struggle. Books should be pleasure! Ending the power struggle would be my biggest priority.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by amcal

My daugher is 6.5yrs old and in the 1st grade. She's reading at a 3rd grade level.

According to the class, reading to the child is acceptable for those children who struggle to read themselves.

your DD DOES struggle to read. On her part it is a lack of desire rather than skill, but it works out the same.

I do read to her - we read stories every night. But, honestly, I don't think that counts once a child can read on their own.

I completely disagree, so do most experts. Kids get soooo much out of being read to, esp. when the reading material has been carefully selected.

I'd drop picture books and stories, and switch to easy but engaging chapter books. They'll tempt her into finishing the books later on her own. Would she enjoy the American Girl series?

Heck, if she read 5 minutes I'd call it good. The point for me is that this is a school assignment she refuses to do. And, I think reading is very important so I want to help her develop a love of .

Then think through how you can use this to foster a love a reading. She already has the skill, so how can you use this log/party in a positive way?

Turning this into a power struggle won't help, and setting her up to be punished for not doing it won't help.

Just focus on enjoying good books together, document enough time for her to go to the party, and set your sights on how she will feel about reading when she is 11. This is a long term project. Right now she is a really little kid. In a few years, you'll look back and be shocked at how much you expected out of her when she was so little. Cut her some slack and just read her good chapter books and let it go.