This is the sixth post by FedUp Mom, the mother of a fifth grader. FedUp Mom’s daughter used to attend a public school in suburban Philadelphia, but this year FedUp Mom moved her to a private Quaker school, hoping for a more relaxed environment. You can read her other posts here, here, here, here and here.
I Hate Reading Logs
by FedUp Mom
Every time I think we’ve solved the school problem something comes along to bite me in the rear. This week it’s the dreaded reading log. We found out about it from a letter the teachers sent home:
“Your child will be expected to read every night. We ask that you sign the log each night … We will also check the log regularly, in order to ensure follow through on your child’s part… Please sign the form below and return it to school tomorrow with your child.”
And now, the fun part:
“Thank you for your partnership in your child’s education.” (!)
And how does following the teacher’s directions make me a partner exactly? I feel more like an unpaid employee. Wait a minute — we’re paying them!
There was a little form at the bottom of the letter that said:
“I have read the above letter and agree to help my child by signing his/her log each night.”
I crossed this out and wrote in:
“We trust our daughter to do her reading.”
Then we signed it.
Then we sent the following e-mail to the teacher:
Teacher X: we have chosen not to participate in the reading log. We’ve experienced reading logs before and have these objections:
1.) They turn reading into a chore.
2.) They send a message that we don’t trust (daughter) to do the reading without meddling and micromanaging.
(Daughter) will do the reading she needs to do, but she won’t be logging the pages. Thank you.
I’m hoping that will be the end of it. I’m really tired of conferences and I’m sure we all have better things to do with our time.
Stop Homework 
Anonymous, after 949 comments, that’s your most compelling take away? That FedUpMom is being disrespectful to the teacher? Shall we put her in the corner?
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Anonymous, maybe the teacher should show me a little respect, instead of issuing orders and demanding signatures to prove my compliance.
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FedUp, I can’t stop thinking about that comment. And also wish to reiterate Disillusioned’s point (remember her?) that whenever we get denigrating educators, they seem to regularly post as Anonymous.
“So you think it’s a better idea to be disrespectful to the teacher and have your child witness your disrespect? What is it that you really want her to learn? Your sending the wrong message!”
Those four little lines pack a hefty punch. Did Anonymous read the entire post? Or much of the comments? Instead of respectful debate, it comes down to compliance. Don’t question authority, don’t analyze critically. Just do. Just listen. Make your kid do something, no matter how wrong it feels. Doesn’t matter if it’s onerous or takes up unnecessary time or feels intrusive. The important thing is, comply. Forget non-confrontation, diplomacy and graciousness. You have no business rejecting, no matter how sensible your argument is. Doesn’t matter. You must obey.
We live in a democracy, in case anyone forgot. We are primed to question government. We get that from Thomas Jefferson. A democracy cannot thrive in a culture of fear.
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Is it not your job as a parent, the person who brought the child into the world, to be involved in his education? Do you not care what he is studying at school? Parental involvement and the child’s interaction with the material at home, not just at school, helps to re-inforce the concepts he is learning. Isolating exposure to academic concepts to the classroom is insufficient.
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Mary, who said anything about being uninvolved? I am the most involved parent on the planet. Who said anything about not caring what our kids are learning at school? Do you know what we did with our daughter when she was not in school? Homeschooled on the side!
I’m repeating myself here but from the looks of it, it bears repeating. Sigh. If I haven’t said it a thousand times on this blog, I haven’t said it once. My daughter is in college now but we…ready?, did the following with her:
1. Read endlessly
2. Libraries
3. Free fine arts. Paid too but I am an unstoppable scout when it comes to ferreting out freebies. Classical concerts, ballet, art exhibits, etc.
4. Hikes
5. Museums
6. Science experiments
7. Bookstores
8. Odyssey of the Mind coach
9. FIRST robotics
10. Baking to teach measurements
11. Walks in the city to teach her the grid (geometry)
12. Watched her build endless structures (future engineer)
13. Took her to a construction site many days when she was a toddler. Now she wants to be a civil engineer
I could go on and on and on and on and on but I’m tired and need to get to bed. Mary, you aren’t going to find a more actively engaged parent. And I speak for all the parents who take the time to post on this blog. I don’t need you to kiss my feet. But please respect what I do because I try to respect what you do. If I disparaged you the way you do me, I’d be instantly branded a teacher-hater which I certainly am not.
We ask for no homework and no reading logs so that we can be involved, engaged and be the parent instead of the unpaid involuntary teacher’s aide. We don’t ask you to do our job, please don’t order us to do yours.
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How much time do you spend blogging? You could better spend that time couponing.
Do you see yourself as defensive? Childish? Would you let your children read the angry language you use in these responses?
Do your children like you?
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What are your thoughts on the need for individual rights to be sacrificed for greater common good?
Tricky
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I posted way back on this topic; I’m a 3rd grade teacher. Looking back at the responsibility comment – it’s not the reading log that matters. I really don’t make a big deal out of the reading log – on the reading end of it. I do make it a big deal for my students though because it’s a responsibility. If a student doesn’t follow through with the responsibility, that’s an issue. It’s not a big responsibility either – write book, write pages, have parent sign. The funny thing though, for the 4 kids that don’t enjoy reading, that fight with parents, the reading log just happens to help them out. These kids realize that reading is a responsibility too. It’s better than not reading at home. I do hope they eventually learn the love of reading.
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Anonymous says:
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It’s not a big responsibility either – write book, write pages, have parent sign.
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You left something out of this description, I presume unintentionally. Actually, the way you wrote it is completely accurate — many kids write the book title, the pages, and the signature without actually reading a book.
Don’t you see how unfair it is to make a child “responsible” for her parent’s signature? There’s all kinds of reasons that a parent might not sign the log, and it’s not under the child’s control. That’s why smart kids just fake the signature.
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These kids realize that reading is a responsibility too.
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Do you have a magic window into the kids’ heads? How do you know this is what they realize? They’re more likely to realize that reading is just another school-related chore that they should avoid at all costs.
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You ever read the line on every form in the world…if under 18, you must have a parent/guardian signature. I don’t see the big deal.
If a parent ever opted out on behalf of their child – I would say ok to the signature. They need some responsibility beyond school here – it’s not asking a lot.
Are you against this for your kid’s sake, or other kids’ sakes.
You’re just way to anti-establishment for me to debate. Good luck – let us know if you’re efforts pay off; maybe we’ll join you when you save the world.
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You ever read the line on every form in the world…if under 18, you must have a parent/guardian signature. I don’t see the big deal.
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Are you kidding me? These aren’t medical forms, it’s a reading log. The idea of parents signing homework every night is a very recent development, and a very bad one. There was no such thing in my childhood, or yours, probably.
I’m against reading logs for the sake of all kids. Reading logs accomplish nothing and have a negative effect on many kids who might have otherwise liked reading.
Once again, I refer you to my master list of anti-reading-log material (newly organized!) —
http://kidfriendlyschools.blogspot.com/2010/08/join-chorus-against-reading-logs.html
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I can’t believe that you guys have spent the last 3 years debating whether you should sign a reading log or not. Sign it or don’t sign it doesn’t really matter to me. I just feel like you wasted time debating the issue for THREE YEARS! Sounds like someone needs a new hobby.
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I just stumbled on to this site looking for a better way to do reading logs in my 4th grade classroom and I am stunned. I can’t believe how negative and nasty some of you are. I happen to love teaching and my students, which is why I usually look for the best way to do things. I am just shocked at the awful generalizations that I see here. I hope that you parents are not showing these feelings to your children. It will surely be translated from them to their teachers. There is already enough disrespect in the classroom, and I don’t from the teachers to the students, as I’m sure most of you will see it.
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Who do you think is negative and nasty? The parents who refuse to carry out the teacher’s orders, when they know the result will be to make their kid resent reading? Or the teachers who tell us that we’re lazy and destroying Western civilization?
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I hate that first we have math now there givin our kids reading logs!!! what
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Everyone is entitled to their opinions and beliefs:
When we openly and blatantly disagree and disregard a request of a teacher or any authority figure in our child’s life, we are sending a message to our children that “rules do not apply to us.” We may disagree with many things that take place around us throughout our journey through education, but the way we treat individuals who are in positions of authority is helping shape our children’s view of this position. Fast forward to your child’s first job and their boss or administrator has asked them to carry out a task that they view pointless. How do you think you have prepared them for that experience? As a mother who has older teenagers, it is very clear to me (and will be to you in the future) that the message that this action is sending to your children (unintentionally) is that the rules do not apply to them because they don’t like them. Just some food for thought.
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So you figure the important thing is for me to model unquestioning obedience? I don’t think that’s what education should be about.
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this was pretty cool
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Reading some of the nasty comments of teachers, all I can say is I am relieved we’re done. Done with K-12. Professors aren’t anything like this. Neither, in fact, were many of my daughter’s high school teachers. Her high school had way too much homework, for sure. But at least some teachers treated parents with respect. Wish I could say the same for many of the teachers who write in here.
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My students LIKE my reading logs. There is a response section where they write any questions they have about the text. When we talk about the reading in class, they simply flip to their reading logs and there it is– all of their questions organized and ready for discussion. No more starting into space during book discussions. AFTER ALL, reading is more than just tearing through books- it is grasping the information, being able to ask questions and apply it to real life. It is analyzing the material. Even if your students can read quickly, a reading log makes them PAUSE AND THINK about what they just read. It also helps the class work together as a unit, which is what many parents forget. Yes, your child is unique and special and I will differenciate my lessons to suit their needs, but we cannot play the role of private tutors in class (I do that gladly before and after school). Sometimes we have to do things that aren’t enjoyable in a work environment- it teaches us discipline, NOT negativity- that is learned from environment. I do things I do not find enjoyable every day at work, but that does not mean I don’t love my job. It makes me feel good to have achieved something. Your child doing a reading log will not make them hate reading, it will help them adjust to doing things differently and learn to overcome realistic obstacles. Most students have already decided whether they like the assigned reading or not before the reading log is even in effect, just as adults do when picking out their own literature. Give your kids some credit- they know what they like, and sometimes they have to try things they aren’t used to because everything we work for is to prepare them for a happy, well-adjusted future. My reading logs allow my parents a window into where we are in the classroom, and many have thanked me for involving them in their child’s reading experience. IN FACT, many parents read the books themselves after reading their child’s responses. Nothing makes me happier than hearing a students tell me about how they talk about what their reading with their parents at the dinner table.
For the students who don’t read:
YES, I know it corners them into reading the book.
YES, I know it’s a pain to have to sign them.
YES, I know you trust your child to read, but the truth is he had an F before I did reading logs and now he has a C.
The parents that complain rarely thank me for
1. THE EXTRA EASY POINTS that reading logs provide the student.
2. THE INSURANCE that their child will go into my exam knowing the material.
3. THEIR CHILD NOT GETTING HELD BACK.
You’re welcome. 🙂
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englishteacher said:
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My students LIKE my reading logs …
Sometimes we have to do things that aren’t enjoyable in a work environment
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I sense a contradiction here.
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Your child doing a reading log will not make them hate reading,
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I and many others report that this is exactly the effect reading logs have. Try my master list:
http://kidfriendlyschools.blogspot.com/2010/08/join-chorus-against-reading-logs.html
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The parents that complain rarely thank me …
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Well, at least you admit that you get parent complaints.
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English teacher, I am curious. Did you like reading as a child? Do you love reading now? I can’t imagine you would write these things if your answer is yes.
You sound dutiful. I am sure you did every drop of the required reading. And not a drop more. After all, you yourself admit it’s a chore. It’s not pleasant. You get high marks for obedience. For igniting a love of reading in your students? Not so much.
You talk a lot about points and grades and exams. But to a consummate bookworm, it entirely misses the point.
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My husband said something the other night when we didn’t get to (gasp!) our first grader’s assigned daily reading. “I’m not worried about it. We have read a hell of a lot more to and with our kids than our parents EVER read to us.”
So totally true. My entire generation were never read to or read with like you teachers are requiring us to do. Are our kids really that better than us at that age? No they are not. This reading log is nothing more than pissing in the wind. A reading crisis when there never was one.
The true crisis is the state our children’s education in the classroom. “Fuzzy Math”- Everyday Mathematics and “Fuzzy Reading/Writing”- Lucy Calkins. Yes, I just figured out now what is behind the equally ridiculous reading and writing they do at school thanks to a comment on FedUp Mom’s blog. Now I know why my kid isn’t getting a good foundation in the basics, but here, write this essay and who cares about spelling. Steps A, B, and C will come in time after you master step D. That’s the logic in today’s classroom when it comes to the three Rs thanks to these curricula.
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Kara, for curriculum issues I highly recommend this blog:
http://kitchentablemath.blogspot.com/
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Unfortunately,I have come across a few parent who are for lack of a better word, furious- over their child’s education. What these parents need to realize is that instead of going out and writing a ridiculous blog (that reads like a poor stand-up comedian trying desperately to make their point) they should realize the deeper context of what they are teaching their children. 1) The teacher doesn’t know what they’re doing. 2) The rules may apply to other kids, but not MY child. 3) If I make like the sky is falling, I then fill up my hollow life with a scrap of emotion that feels like martyrdom. The sad fact if that we have your child for 9 months and then they are gone forever. The real loser here is the child who must live with a blow hard parent. Oh, and don’t think your child will realize this by about 4th grade.
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Believe me, I don’t want to be complaining as much as I do…
Then don’t do it.
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I would like the interaction between parents and teachers (and between teachers and students) to be much more collegial. But when on the very first day of school the teachers (almost all of them) send home a contract for the student with lists of “you WILL do this” and “you WILL NOT do that” you’ve lost me (and my child) before I ever got a chance to be friendly.
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Yes you can. It’s your child, not the school’s. There are school transfers, home schooling, and charter schools. But I guess that would be too big an inconceince for you.
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Basically what you are saying is that you willingly drop your child off at a school that is inept, unfriendly, and even hostile. Nice message your sending your kid there.
Your next book should be titled: Why I Leave My Kid in a Place I Can’t Stand.
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I as a student I (insert synonym to loathe, and abhor) reading logs I’m on strike against them and even though it’s pulling my grade to the point where I might get thrown out of my gifted and talented class I refuse to do them. The people in my class, and even my family think I am a slacker (I sort of am in other subjects) but i just like to stand for what I think is a horrendous idea. I’m even writing a persuasive essay on why we shouldn’t use them. I might even use this as a source for it thank you! 🙂
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If a student has a “good fit” book and the reading log is properly set up filling it out should take less than 3 minutes.
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A student, could you let us know when your persuasive essay is finished? Would you be willing to post it here or on my blog, the Coalition for Kid-Friendly Schools? Thanks.
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Sure I’d absolutely love to as soon as I finish.
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Looking back at my previous comments I could see how passionate I am about the well being of my students. I did not mean to offend anyone, and apologize if I did. I guess we are all passionate about different things.
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TeachPeace, I don’t have a problem with your passion. Go for it! Wish more people had it. I just have a problem with practices that persist despite no credible link to their efficacy.
You say: “if a student has a “good fit” book and the reading log is properly set up filling it out should take less than 3 minutes.” For starters, give kids loads of time to read books of their own choosing in their own time. They’ll select plenty of “good fit” books! That said, I didn’t want my daughter to grow up reading fluff and missing out on the classics.
I can’t trust the school to teach classic literature. They barely cover it, for all this howling about reading. Just yesterday I asked a parent of a 9th grader how many books his son’s English class has covered this year and he told me, they’re on their third book. Third book? Really? It’s March!
When I homeschooled my 8th grader for that lone year, we did about 35 books. And that doesn’t even count all the other reading she did on her own. It is amazing how much learning can happen when homework does not get in the way.
TeachPeace, you assure us the reading log only takes three minutes. Well, that’s nice. Better than ten. But if the task is useless at best and harmful at worst, why give it even a measly three minutes? Why waste the time? I’d rather put those precious three minutes towards real learning, such as beginning yet another book.
Remember, the bookworms don’t need your reading log and the reluctant readers often get turned off by it. Schools think they are doing families a favor by imposing a reading time. A teacher may tell her students, “read for twenty minutes.” She may be thinking, I meant, read for AT LEAST twenty minutes. The next thing I hear is parents whipping out timers set for twenty minutes because the assignment has become onerous. And the reading log, for many kids, is dreary and tedious. Why would you want to attach a meaningless task to something so critical as reading?
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HWB, you need to real all of TeachPeace’s comments, not just the most recent one. They’re plenty offensive.
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Responses posted in message
TeachPeace, I don’t have a problem with your passion. Go for it! Wish more people had it. I just have a problem with practices that persist despite no credible link to their efficacy.
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Study after study shows that the best way to get better at reading is to read every day with a book at your just right reading level. I can list the studies if you really wish but you seem so blind and (I’ll use the word again) furious- I don’t think you would accept them as valid.
Students come to me at basic or below basic and leave proficient and advanced. They develop a concept of genres, inferences, text structures, and using context clues to help understand difficult words. I increase their reading stamina during the year. At the beginning of the year some can only read for 3 minutes at a time- by the timethey leave my room they can easily go 1/2 hour and beg for more “reading time.” They develop a love for reading. These are kids from home without books, without families who put a value on reading- families that either can not afford books or get to a library to check out books. I turn my head when the child steals books, which happens often. Small reminders at the end of the year get the books back to me. There is a whole other world out there that you just simply can’t comprehend- your life has been safe and sheltered- that’s they only explanation for your reactions. Teach for a year in a low income. high poverty area- and your views would change.
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You say: “if a student has a “good fit” book and the reading log is properly set up filling it out should take less than 3 minutes.” For starters, give kids loads of time to read books of their own choosing in their own time. They’ll select plenty of “good fit” books! That said, I didn’t want my daughter to grow up reading fluff and missing out on the classics.
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So you tell your daughter her books (what she is interested in ) is not appropriate to read and she should read these other books?? Wost thing you can do for a developing reader is force them to read something. One more note: The “classics” are boring. What you consider classics your daughter/son considers a chore. Let the child choose. In my room now I have a student reading Junie B. jones books, and another one reading Little Women. Why? Because I made them available to them, discussed the themes and made suggestions. The kids picked their books.
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I can’t trust the school to teach classic literature. They barely cover it, for all this howling about reading. Just yesterday I asked a parent of a 9th grader how many books his son’s English class has covered this year and he told me, they’re on their third book. Third book? Really? It’s March!
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I don’t know about High School or Junior High- I do know one of the worst ways to teach is called “Drive by teaching” it’s when the teacher stops the student from reading to discuss every little point, symbolism, or metaphor the author uses. Imagine watching a movie, but having someone stop the film every 2 minutes to discuss the events. That’s what has become of reading instruction.
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When I homeschooled my 8th grader for that lone year, we did about 35 books. And that doesn’t even count all the other reading she did on her own. It is amazing how much learning can happen when homework does not get in the way.
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Just curious, why did you count? How many books she reads? Are you competing with someone?
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TeachPeace, you assure us the reading log only takes three minutes. Well, that’s nice. Better than ten. But if the task is useless at best and harmful at worst, why give it even a measly three minutes? Why waste the time? I’d rather put those precious three minutes towards real learning, such as beginning yet another book.
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I can’t help but laugh at your responses. A reader needs time to reflect on what they read. They need to verbalize why they liked or didn’t like the book. They need to defend their inferences, and make connections to their own life, other books or connections to the word we live in.
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Why waste the time? I’d rather put those precious three minutes towards real learning, such as beginning yet another book.
Again- you seem to think that quantity means more than quality. Most literate people and authors keep journals (look at yourself, you have a blog) why don’t you encourage your child to write about what she is reading. Challenge those “fluff” choices she brings home. I think you are not giving your daughter enough credit. If she was in my room I would fight you to the end to give your daughter free choice in what she reads. I feel sorry that she is getting that message from someone so important in her life.
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Remember, the bookworms don’t need your reading log
Yes they do need them. Some kids use books to hide and escape from reality. Those issues can be found in their reading log responses. Why are you afraid of what your daughter would write in her log. Do you feel she is not capable?
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and the reluctant readers often get turned off by it.
Speaking only for my classroom, the reluctant readers absolutely love it. Why? Because I have taught them how to successfully analyze their reading. They make inferences, connections, complete character studies, and many more activities on their reading logs. They change from reluctant readers to excited readers. Are you saying because they are reluctant they shouldn’t read, or they just shouldn’t complete reading logs.
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Schools think
Schools can’t think they are buildings.
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they are doing families a favor by imposing a reading time. A teacher may tell her students, “read for twenty minutes.” She may be thinking, I meant, read for AT LEAST twenty minutes. The next thing I hear is parents whipping out timers set for twenty minutes because the assignment has become onerous. And the reading log, for many kids, is dreary and tedious. Why would you want to attach a meaningless task to something so critical as reading?
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Your view of writing about reading is warped, I’m guessing you had just a horrible time in school and now you assume the same is happening to your child. To call a well written Reading Log as worthless shows your ignorance. The Reading Log is what you make of it. You have decided it is worthless, therefore all reading logs to you are worthless.
Just one warning, your daughter may be a great reader, but if she isn’t able to analyze and gain meaning, real meaning- not surface level reading- she is doomed in life.
What ever experiences you have had I feel sadness for you and your child. Just curious, are you angry just about reading logs, or are there other issues with the school?
How many complaints have you had against the school since your child started attending? Is it just the reading log issue, or had there been other things?
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Fedupmom-
HWB, you need to real all of TeachPeace’s comments, not just the most recent one. They’re plenty offensive.
What’s offensive?
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TeachPeace, if you can’t figure out what you’ve said that’s offensive, I won’t waste my time explaining it to you.
I will explain one point, however. Sara Bennet, FedUpMom, and HomeworkBlues are THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. Got it?
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TeachPeace, I got this far but have to respond. “Study after study shows that the best way to get better at reading is to read every day…” Yea, no kidding. I know that! We’re not opposed to reading, we’re opposed to mindless tedious tasks that take away from reading. I already told you we did 33 books in the homeschool year. And that doesn’t include all the other reading she did on her own.
You’re preaching to the choir. We are avowed bookworms in my family. I have been opposed to homework in elementary precisely because it takes away from reading.
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I started responding and lost power. I’m not sure your comment is even worth responding to. You so misunderstood what I was getting at.
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FedupMom, you know me and you know what I’ve written over the years. Maybe you can jump to my defense here. I’ll tackle a response on Monday but for now, FedUp, go for it!
I’ll reiterate this for starters, TeachPeace. Ouch!!! Double ouch!!! You really misunderstood my points. You are confusing a mindless reading log with literary analysis and reflection. We did tons of that in homeschooling. And of course my daughter chose books! I added that we also covered a lot of the classics. We did a form of homeschooling called unschooling and it was very child led.
I didn’t count the books in the way you imply! I didn’t stand there and keep meticulous records. It’s just a number, for crying out loud! In my state, I don’t even need to list that to show Proof of Progress. You seem to know how many books you cover in a single year. I didn’t keep a little black book of daily records! The number is just to illustrate how homeschoolers I know, on a shoestring budget, can accomplish so much more than a large school system with resources.
You seem to assume that anyone who can write intelligently is privileged. I can assure you I am not “safe and sheltered.” If you picture me in a cushy suburb, and if not affluent at least comfortable, think again.
No, I am not furious or blind or have a warped sense of reading and language arts. Yikes! Quite the contrary. English was my favorite subject all through school and I went on to major in it. And no, I didn’t have constant battles with teachers, in fact I’d like to think I became a pretty articulate and focused advocate for my child.
More later. Sayonara!
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HomeworkBlues, I’m losing energy for this. I’ve said what I have to say. Most points I’ve made many many times.
If TeachPeace wants to come here and rant and rave and pick fights, I’m not playing. I’ve done enough, and I don’t see TeachPeace actually taking in anything the rest of us say anyway.
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Not ranting and raving but being a teacher one is caught between what the school requires and what the parents request. I began responding to your original blog.
Specifically these three points.
1.) They turn reading into a chore.
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Not true, if a student has read a book they are interested in, they jump at the chance to share it with others. It is a chore if the child is given something of little interest for them to read.
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2.) They send a message that we don’t trust (daughter) to do the reading without meddling and micromanaging.
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Not true- they are simply a form of communication. I’ve never heard of any kid going to court because they broke the reading log contract. The sad thing is these things need to be sent out because parents generally like to know what is expected of their child in the classroom and for homework. They also appreciate the daily communication with the teacher.
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Correction-
The thing is these things need to be sent out because parents generally like to know what is expected of their child in the classroom and for homework- When a parent doesn’t want to accept them there is less communication between home and school.
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I strumbled across this page by accident and feel as through I am not suppose to be here. I am a first year primary grades teacher and I feel guilty/relieved to read what you parents are discussing.
I send home reading logs (which do not seem as complex as those mentioned above) along with my little dears. I have often thought about how they could be harming the work we do to make reading enjoyable.
Our goal is to read 15 to 20 minutes a night and the kids are only responsible for the title, author, number of minutes read and to have a grown up sign it.
I agree that kids need time to play and relax but especially in my improverised area and with such a high English Language Learning population the more time they spend with words the better. That meaning said maybe I am expecting too much.
I am just in a continually state of readjusting my methods and thoughts on certain issues. I just hate homework nightly especially in grade school. It just seems unnessceary and I am really considering what I should be doing for the rest of the year. I think I will still encourage reading and using the reading log but I have never and will never make it graded.
Also I wish my students parents got as involved as all of you seem to. We do have a language barrier here (all but about five of my parents speak spanish and limited to no English) but many just don’t get involved. Just please be respectful and considerate of even the difficult teachers, we do the best we can but still you are you child’s best and most important adovate. Very stop fighting to get your child the best education for him or her!I came across this page by accident and feel as through I am not suppose to be here. I am a first year primary grades teacher and I feel guilty/relieved to read what you parents are discussing.
I send home reading logs (which do not seem as complex as those mentioned above) along with my little dears. I have often thought about how they could be harming the work we do to make reading enjoyable.
Our goal is to read 15 to 20 minutes a night and the kids are only responsible for the title, author, number of minutes read and to have a grown up sign it.
I agree that kids need time to play and relax but especially in my impoverished area and with such a high English Language Learning population the more time they spend with words (in any language) the better.
I am just in a continually state of readjusting my methods and thoughts on certain issues. I just hate nightly homework especially in grade school but it is what the other teachers in my grade do, so I went along with it. It seems unnecessary and I am really revaluating considering what I should be doing for the rest of the year. I think I will still encourage reading and using the reading log but I have never and will never make it graded.
Also I wish my students parents got as involved as all of you seem to. We do have a language barrier here (all but about five of my parents speak Spanish and limited to no English) but many just don’t get involved. Just please be respectful and considerate of even the difficult teachers, we do the best we can but still you are you child’s best and most important advocate. Never stop fighting to get your child the best education for him or her, even if that means being a pest.
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There are certainly loads of particulars like that to take into consideration. That could be a nice point to carry up. I supply the ideas above as normal inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you deliver up the place a very powerful thing might be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged round issues like that, but I am certain that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impact of only a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
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…What.
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In this day and age when children are overly stimulated by technology, to actually get parents to cultivate love of reading is unheard of. Mostly, as a teacher seeing this becoming more a trend, students read only in the classroom. Their vocabulary and writing skills are lacking. To ensure children, who otherwise would not get the encouragement to read because life is to busy or parents have no real interest in reading themselves, read teachers assign the reading assignments and logs. I suggest that many of you read the book The Book Whisperer. And it is true is should be a partnership between the teacher and the parent when it comes to a student’s education. The reality of it is that many parents expect the teacher to do it all; when is this even feasible. Be active in your student’s learning, aid the learning taking place in the classroom, and trust that teachers do know what they’re doing. Just spend a few hours in a classroom and see the reality of what teaching is–dealing with parents, student personalities (kids whose parents swear are respectful, trustworthy, etc. would actually shock their parents), and administration then make an educated statement.
Slightly Perturbed at the Lack of Respect for a Profession that Creates all Others
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Anonymous, I read your entire comment. And you seem to make no case for children who are already voracious readers, live in homes where parents do actually read to them, parents who are passionate about learning and knowledge, and who are extremely active in their children’s education.
That is me. That is us. That is my child. You signed your comment as perturbed over our perceived lack of respect. Suppose I came to you when my child was six. Suppose I told you (respectfully) that my daughter is a ravenous reader, would read all afternoon and night and is devouring high quality literature. Would you nod your head, whisper but of course, go for it, no reading logs necessary? Or would you give me that mindless spiel about how she needs to fill out logs because the other children must and differences are not allowed.
Remember that the request to you is not a desire to be “disrespectful.” It’s taking command of our home life and educating our child in our home as we see fit. We have respect for you and your profession. We are merely asking you do your job so we can do ours. I can’t do my job effectively if I’m busy at home doing yours.
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I am a teacher of students with disabilities ranging from K-5. I also teach in a Title I school. I am not one of the fortunate ones to have wonderful parental support. I have to wage war against parents, society, and government that believes that my pay should be based on how my students do on standardized assessments.
My students are struggling readers. I am proud to say that I do use reading logs, and have made my students stronger readers because of the reading logs. It makes the children responsible to get their parent(s) to fill them out. It makes the parents aware of what their child is doing in my classroom.
As a teacher, I did not choose my job based on the pay. However, I will do whatever it takes to make sure that my students have made gains and shown progress on the standardized tests.
I await your replies.
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I will be a new teacher this Fall. Reading these parent comments (some of them) is heartbreaking. Most teachers absolutely love teaching children, but to be honest are terrified of any communication with parents. Most parents are quick to blame teachers for any and everything. I am not attempting to be disrespectful in my comment, but as a young and new teacher who knows that there is no other place I’d rather be than teaching and encouraging little ones, I am heartbroken that I have chosen to enter a profession where I will probably be expected to fight with, not my little ones, but their parents. I will not do that. I have one son, and I expect his teacher to allow me to partner in his education. How can I expect a teacher to do something different for my child that isn’t being done for others? Are you serious? If a parent discovered that there was a slight difference in expectation or procedures occurring among the students, the teacher would probably be killed by parents and the principal. If I want my child to be treated differently with Reading Logs or whatever, then the responsible thing to do is find another school or (preferably, since it is BEST) homeschool. PBS.org “The results of a major international education assessment show that American students are lagging behind many other countries in crucial skills like reading, math and science.” A blog about reading logs is trivial when all parents, teachers, and mentors need to educate these children together. Besides, I don’t need to be on payroll to help any adult teach my son. He’s my son, and I’ll do it happily for free.. as well as ensure he has time daily for play, independent reading, and to just plan enjoy his youth and his family. My parents, who were born overseas, have always taught me that education is something that a village (parents, teachers, mentors, sibling, etc) participates in. My mom would always say Americans are spoiled because we fight with our words so often as so quickly and rarely calm down and just appreciate people who invest in our children. As a fairly spoiled American myself, I agree with her.
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My child hated filling out the logs but loved to read. She dutifully filled out the log each day including the title, author, pages read, and date. What she forgot was to turn in the log the day it was due. She turned it in the next day and got 0 credit for reading that month. Any late work had the requirement that it still had to be turned in but for 0 credit. Yes, she was forgetful, and it was wrong to fail to remember. So, her reading grade was low for that quarter. Her report card indicated by the grade that she struggled to read while in reality she was reading grade levels ahead.
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