Digital Reading Logs
To Log or Not to Log?
It's an eternal debate for reading teachers; to log, or not to log. We want kids to read, and we want to hold them accountable, but dealing with reading logs is like herding cats!
Many of you have talked to me about your reading log frustrations and/or alternatives that you are using in class. What works for one of us doesn't always work for all of us, but I'd love to start a conversation with you about possibilities for encouraging and managing independent reading. What's working for you? What isn't? How can the media coordinator help? Here are some suggestions for digital reading logs that may be more appealing to students and easier for teachers to manage.
Biblionasium
Biblionasium is a free site that allows you to create an account and add individual accounts for your students. You can choose to enter passwords for students, or the site will generate them. Teachers and students can customize avatars and a visual bookshelf. There is a reading log feature that allows students to track reading time and their comments on the book. Parents can also create accounts to interact with their children. Both parents and teachers can set reading challenges and rewards for students.
BiblioNasium: For All - Site Tour
Bookopolis
Bookopolis is another free site that functions much like Biblionasium, but it offers a badging system and games for students as well as the other functions. There are also components that allow teachers to earn free books. A cool "Book Quest" interactive makes book suggestions for students.
Readers: Welcome to Bookopolis!
Google Forms
You can augment your traditional reading log by just creating a Google Form students can use to enter their information. Adding the tech element may entice some reluctant students, and can put an end to paper shuffling. If it won't work for your entire class, you might consider this for students who need organizational modifications. Here's a blog post on using Google Forms for reading logs, and I am happy to help if you are interested.
Reading Rewards
A free account on Reading Rewards will allow you to manage a group of 70 students and run reading log reports. Students can earn custom awards that you set up inside the program, like fun activities online or homework passes.
Book Adventure
Book Adventure is a free site for K-8 students and teachers with a variety of incentive and management tools. Students can take track what they read and take quizzes on a variety of books. You can create a personal incentive plan for your students on this site.
What Do You Think?
- Do you use reading logs?
- Are you ready to go digital next year?
- What are the challenges?
- How can I help?