It may not seem that I assign much homework in language arts, but that is because I want the children to read and read and read. I talk to children about the importance of reading at home, and they know that I expect them to read. I have posted this requirement as homework on the class website every week since the first week of school. Even those students who diligently fill out those logs and actually read might not be motivated to read when the requirement of the log disappears over the summer or during vacations.Īlthough I do not require a log, I do require that children read at least 30 minutes per night and 30 minutes on the weekends. Sometimes, I could not remember if they read the required time or not. I also know, as a parent, that I have signed those logs in the car on Friday because my precious daughters asked me to sign one. I have seen children sit for thirty minutes with an open book and never read a word. For children who do not read much, the log does not show me that they are really reading. Who wants to curl up in bed at night with your book and your reading log? Avid readers resent recording every moment of their reading lives. I do not believe that reading logs motivate most children to read. I do not assign reading logs for your children to complete. Knowing that you have these goals for your child, it concerns me when children report to me that they do not read much at home. You expect them to do well in school, you expect them to go to college, and you expect them to have happy, productive lives. While the entire focus of our lives should not be a child’s academic success, I know that you have high expectations for your child.

Clearly, reading is important, and the students who read the most possess the highest academic potential. They are the best readers, of course, but they are also the best writers, spellers, possess the best vocabulary, and perform better in content-heavy areas like science and social studies.

The children who read the most, both inside and outside of school, are the best at the school game. While the commentary focuses on the academic success of African-American students, the importance of at-home reading for all students is well-documented. Simply put, children who read the most at home surpass the educational success of their peers who do not read at home- even those who are hard-working, capable students. This weekend, commentary printed in the Teachers Leadership Network Forum, reinforced to me the importance of carving out reading time at home. We all address the same issue in our classes each day. I thought I would share it with you, too. With my principal’s hearty support, this is the e-mail I sent to parents today.

The book whisperer by donalyn miller