In my family and in our homeschool, one of my highest priorities is nurturing a love of reading. Over the years, one simple tool we have used to make reading fun and memorable is a reading log. Reading logs are such an easy way to track and celebrate the titles we read. I love keeping lists of what we read, and I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I look over what we have read together.
In this blog I am sharing my favorite ideas for using reading logs to excite and encourage readers and sharing a free printable reading log.
In this blog post:
- Favorite ideas for using reading logs for families and children
- Free printable reading log download [Free PDF download]
- Favorite literature resources from Treehouse Schoolhouse
Favorite ideas for using reading logs for families and children
Here are some of my favorite ways to use reading logs to encourage reading, build confidence, and help make reading fun and enjoyable for children.
Using reading logs to track family read-alouds
As a family, we love reading chapter books aloud together. Over the last few years, we have regularly read aloud chapter books together when the kids are eating lunch. We gather around the table with our lunches and read a chapter or two aloud. We often coordinate this reading with an activity or notebooking prompt from Treehouse Book Studies.
As we read, we love to use a reading log to track all of the books we read together as a family. To do this, simply add the title to the reading log when you finish the book, along with the author’s name and the date you complete it. After a season of reading together, ask each family member to choose their favorite book and explain why. Use your favorites to help select future titles your family might enjoy.
Using reading logs to encourage emergent readers
For emergent readers who are just starting to read independently, using a reading log is a fun way to motivate and encourage their efforts. Focus on beginning reader books with simple, familiar words and add each title your child reads independently to the list. Come up with a prize to reward your child when they reach their goal, like a trip to the ice cream parlor or a fun activity like bowling or rock climbing. Reading logs will help children visually see their progress as they read book after book and progress their reading ability and help children build confidence in their reading abilities.
Using reading logs to track books for independent readers
For independent readers, reading logs are a fun and simple way to track the books they read. As they complete books, use the reading log to track the books with the date, title, author, and a rating. Print a new reading log each month and make a goal to see the number of books they can read each month or season. Over the school year, track and see which month they read the most, or which books were their favorites.
Using reading logs to track reading by genre, author, or create a booklist
Does your family love a certain genre of books or have a favorite author? Designate a reading log for this purpose and see how many titles you can read in a category. Make a list of the historical fiction books you read together, or books in a certain genre, or list out all of the books by a favorite author and make a goal to read all of the author’s books.
If you have a reading schedule for the year, list all of the books you plan to read ahead of time and check them off as you go, with the date and rating so you can see your progress.
Using reading logs as part of your homeschool portfolio
If you keep a portfolio in your homeschool or your state requires one, a reading log is an easy way to track the books you read over the year. Write out the titles you read as part of your literature curriculum or independent reading, and at the end of the year you have a great resource to include in your portfolio.
Free printable reading log download [Free PDF download]
Keep track, rate, review and reward their reading journey with this free printable reading log from Treehouse Schoolhouse. List out the books you read by date, title, author, and rating, and color in the books at the top of the chart as you go.
Download the free printable PDF reading log here.
Favorite literature resources from Treehouse Schoolhouse
Is reading at the core or your home education setting? Consider these literature and reading resources from Treehouse Schoolhouse.
Treehouse Story School: Preschool
Create special memories together as you read favorite books together with your preschool-aged children, and use stories as the foundation for learning with Treehouse Story School: Preschool.
Wonder of Nature Alphabet Sheets
Give children an engaging and hands-on way to explore the letters of the alphabet with the Wonder of Nature Alphabet Sheets. These interactive, reusable sheets were designed to offer young children a multi-sensory invitation to recognizing, forming, and writing letters.
Treehouse Book Studies
Incorporate read-alouds with your family with Treehouse Book Studies, digital download book studies for family-style learning. Read chapter books aloud together and then engage in discussion, writing prompts, further research, and hands-on activities that connect to the story.
Have you ever used reading logs to help your children track the books they read? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
