Reading Journal Instructions

Books: You choose your own books. If you don’t like the book, abandon it and choose another. Feel free to read a newspaper but NO MAGAZINES for your journal.

Reading: I believe that we learn to read and write by reading. Therefore, I expect you to read for a minimum of twenty minutes each night, four nights per week.

Journal: Organizers for recording your reading time are available in the classroom and can be downloaded from my website. A sample is provided at the bottom of this sheet. When providing a response to your reading think about answering one or more of the following questions:

o What did you like about a particular character or episode?

o What predictions might you make at this point?

o Do you agree with the author’s ideas? Why/Why not?

o How does this book compare to others you have read?

Log entries: When you read, you are expected to keep a log of time read, pages read, as well as the title of the book or article you read. This can be done in the appropriate portion of the reading log organizer.

Grading Reading Logs: Reading log grades can help or hinder your class average. It is important to keep up with your reading. Part of this grade is a parent signature, so don’t forget to have it signed.

Grading: Logs will be collected and graded every two weeks. It’s your job to remember when your journal is due. Every Friday!

adapted from Seeking Diversity: Language Arts with Adolescents by Linda Rief

Please detach and return this slip.

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I am aware that my son or daughter, ____________________________, is required to keep a Reading Log/Journal in which he or she records his or her responses to independent reading at home. I am also aware that a Parent Signature is required on the reading log form.

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Parent’s Signature Date