Darlene, I too experienced the same response with reading logs as homework. I tried to change them up, use them as incentives etc. I became very frustrated and disheartened at the lack of response from my students and what seemed to be lack of support from home. After some reflection, I decided to do away with homework. I provide students with the time they need to read and respond in class. My students read every day in my class, and they respond two to three times per week. I realized that the only time I could control was my class time. I know that my students are reading, and honestly I can assess and provide feedback more authentically this way through mini conferences with my students. A book that really causes me to re-evaluate how I do "reading" in my classroom is The Book Whisperer, by Donnalyn Miller. If you haven't read this yet, please do.
________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] [[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 11:21 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [MOSAIC] reading logs Hello, I would greatly appreciate your thoughts about the use of reading logs in my sixth grade reading/writing workshop. My homework policy is that students read 30 minutes 5 nights a week or 150 minutes a week. They are free to read any book they choose. I give students a reading log, due every Monday, that asks them to document the minutes they read nightly, I ask them to write about their independent reading weekly, based on the strategies and or elements of literature we were studying. I maintain a classroom library and students have access to the school library every 2 weeks. My problem is that my homework completion rate is TERRIBLE. Rather , I should say that fewer than 50% of my students regularly turn in their homework. Atwell, Miller, and many, many other language arts teachers consider reading at home an important part of their reading program. I am tempted to drop the the reading log requiremnent, but I don't want to "dumb down" my expectations for my students who are predominantly blue collar and poor. I want students to have some accountability, but at the same time I don't want to make the homework process so cumbersome that it turns my students off to reading independently. What are your experiences and insights that can help? Thank you. Darlene Kellum _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
