After 20+ years of teaching, I’ve done a lot of different things for reading homework. I stopped doing reading logs several years ago because I didn’t feel it was meaningful. Sometimes, families were just rushing to write down book titles to get “credit” for homework, instead of focusing on the fun and important work of enjoying books together.
Another reading homework challenge was that some parents didn’t always know how to get started or how to make reading fun and enjoyable, rather than an unwelcome or stressful task.
So, a few years ago, I designed these reading calendars to give families a starting point each day. I use the monthly calendars, but other teachers preferred (or were required to do) weekly homework, so I made a set of weekly reading activities, too!
I send home this letter with the first monthly calendar to give parents an idea of what we work on in class each day, how they can support their young reader at home, and some tips for how to make this an enjoyable time.
To involve my students in their learning, we usually decide together how they will record their progress and how many boxes should be completed each week. Most of the time, the kids preferred to color in the box and have a parent initial. Throughout the years, students have decided on anywhere from 3-5 completed boxed per week were satisfactory. I’m really not too picky about it as long as I know they are reading at home. I send home a book pouch with 5 books each week for my students. You can read more about that HERE! But, students can also use their library books, online books, their own books at home, or books from our “borrow” cart at school.
Reading is the most important and beneficial academic activity that students can do at home and these calendars have been welcomed by families each year. Parents often tell me that having a “directive” from their teacher, instead of mom or dad telling them what to do, helps lessen any arguments or struggles at home!
You can get the monthly homework calendars HERE or the weekly reading homework activities HERE.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Teaching!
Jennifer ~ Practical Primary Teacher
