Reading Journals

With reading goals for 2018 set, we each selected a notebook for a reading journal, bought some book-darts, and gathered pens.  The idea for keeping a reading journal originally came from Sarah MacKenzie at The Read Aloud Revival podcast.  Of course after she inspired me, I made modifications to fit our family.  

Our goal for the year is highlighted on the front page of our journals, then a key for the symbols used to give information important to teach individual is outlined.  This information includes symbols for first time reading, first book in a series, nonfiction, graphic novel, rereading, and so on.  After the first 10 or so pages, we placed a clip to indicate a place to note quotes from the books we read. I told the kids as they read to place book-darts where the words move you, make you laugh, or make you think.  Once the reading of the given book is complete the title, author and page number is recorded in the front of the journal.  Then the quotes are recorded in the notes section.  This seems simple enough, yet once reading began I could tell everyone was reading with a purpose.  Looking for phrases that move them, made them laugh, or caused them to think.  I was told early on that more book-darts were needed.  

If you are looking for a simplistic way to motivate meaningful reading, look into creating a reading journal.