Over the years I have tried many ways for my Year 3-6 students to keep a record of their reading, but the most empowering and engaging format I have developed is the Reading Calendar.
The Reading Calendar is a simple calendar template on which readers can keep a record of their daily reading: Title, author, page numbers read/time spent reading. Enlarged to A3, the calendar template also provides white space for jottings and drawings of characters, settings, wonderings, ideas, questions, insights and discoveries.
How the Reading Calendar can help readers
The Reading Calendar provides a simple tool for Years 3-6 readers to take responsibility for tracking their volume and range of reading whilst building their stamina for reading continuous texts over days and weeks. Daily, independent reading is the habit of good readers; building vocabulary, comprehension, fluency and world knowledge.
Celebrating the daily reading through a simple jotting is a joyous way to acknowledge and develop this important habit. The Reading Calendar also provides a visual overview of the monthly life of a reader, allowing readers to reflect on their own growth and to share with peers, parents, carers, etc. The white space border, allowing a creative element, ensures that each calendar is unique and relevant, as readers represent ideas, characters, etc through drawings and jottings.
How the Reading Calendar can help teachers
The Reading Calendar provides a simple tool for Years 3-6 teachers to glimpse into the habits of readers: How much are they reading? What are they reading? Are they reading widely? Are they completing books? Are they engaged with their reading? What could I recommend for each reader? Where do they need help? A quick glance over the reader's shoulder or during a Reading Conference will give a powerful insight into each reader, as well as insights for planning small group and/or whole class lessons.
The Reading Calendar features
- Simple calendar template for each month of 2020, best enlarged to A3
- Space for daily record of Title and Author
- Small box for pages read (eg pp45-56) or time read (eg 20 mins)
- Monthly record of number of books completed (no competition here, just a celebration of completion)
- White space around the calendar template for drawings and jottings of characters, settings, significant events, ideas, wonderings, questions, insights, discoveries, etc.
The Reading Calendar's success for my readers was in my willingness to allow for each reader's creativity and ownership. With very few guidelines, and with more opportunities for students to create their own picture of their reading life each month, I found that I was able to enter the wonderful life of young readers moving into the bigger world of reading independence and discovery.
See the series of Reading Calndars for 2020 here.