Reading at Home in 5th Grade
This year, students will not be asked to fill out a reading log in order to keep track of their at-home reading. They will not be asked to get a signature in their assignment notebooks proving that they have read that night and they will not be asked to read for a specific number of minutes each night.
This does NOT mean that the students are not expected to read outside of school. It is my hope throughout the course of this school year to ensure that every child becomes or remains a lifelong reader. However, I do not believe that filling out a reading log each night or staring at a clock for twenty minutes is the best way for fifth graders to become or remain lifelong readers.
I have been meeting with the 5th graders, talking about their Fall MAP Reading scores and making action plans on how to improve as readers. One thing that we all agreed on is that the best way to become a better reader is to READ! J Many of them are making goals to read at school and home. Some have made goals to read all 10 Golden Sower nominees and others have set a goal to read 50 chapter books be the end of 5th grade! Honestly, some of them asked if they could still fill out reading logs, or keep track on monthly calendars and I told them absolutely. Whatever it takes for them to keep reading works for me!
So if, as parents, you are not waiting around to sign a reading log or time your child while they read, what can you do to help? Here are a few ideas:
· Create a sacred time during the day or at night where everyone in the house is reading. (Imagine how powerful just 15 minutes a day could be for your readers!)
· Read alongside your child. Every child loves to see that reading is important to you too!
· Read books WITH your child. By reading the same book, you can provide the discussions they need to fully comprehend a story and what better way to motivate your child to read?
· Ask your child about the books he/she is reading. The more kiddos ‘talk’ books, the more they will love to keep reading.
· Talk to your child about the books you are reading. Being a model of reading creates a culture of readers.
· Don’t judge what your child is reading as not being, “good enough”. All reading has value. So if they want to read Sports Illustrated for Kids, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid (for the 4th time!), or a blog online about Star Wars, know that reading what you love helps you to fall in love with reading.
Throughout the year I will be meeting with the students, updating their MAP goals and talking about our observations of their reading habits. Through these conversations I will be able to tell who is struggling to read outside of school and I will meet with those students to brainstorm ways that are needed for them to be successful.
At any time, if you have concerns about your child’s reading habits, please feel free to contact me. Conversations with students that allow us to problems solve and make adjustments go much further than punishments for not reading or filling out a reading log and getting it signed.
Looking forward to a year filled with building lifelong readers!
Jackie Polacek