I thought of starting up a reading log for my little girl (aged 4) and I was wondering whether any of you had a good template or idea or way of doing it? I thought about just getting an exercise book and decorating it together and ruling up the pages so that there is a space for the title and author and also the illustrator (because this is her latest interest, she wants to be an author and illustrator at the moment) a space for a little bit about the book and a space for a sticker or a stamp. I thought this would be a good way for me to keep track of where she is at and may also make it easier for when she gets to school for her teacher? She is zooming through library books at the moment which is great (because for so long has been on a non reading blitz) and I have been getting her out mainly a bunch that are too easy because she often shuts down if it is too hard and so each time we go back i am getting her slightly harder ones than before as each time she is getting more and more confident (i think she loves being able to say 'oh those books you got were way too easy mum').
I would love any ideas on the log thing thanks. Or is it not necessary? I just want to be prepared when she gets to school (because we cannot afford to get her tested I am just going to have to have as much 'evidence' as i can if you know what i mean).
I would recommend that she has her own library card and you keep the print out of books issued in the exercise book you describe. You'll quickly get to the stage where she's bolting through the books too quickly for you to record them all manually. Perhaps she can rate them e.g. stars out of 5 next to the print-out and you could have your own little mark for those that were too difficult at this stage. Perhaps get her to do a small book review/picture about her favourite one for the week.
If you've got too much 'evidence' I wonder if the teachers will look at it as closely as well chosen pieces. Even a testing report doesn't guarantee they'll read it/ act on it (vent, vent!!).
My son did reading logs with the library summer and winter holiday reading programmes from 3 yo and loved it (at least the incentive prizes) so this could be a good idea for your child!
Thanks Linda that does sound like an easier way, she is going through them quite fast (we go twice a week and each time she checks out 10-20 books) at the moment and I did wonder whether I would be able to record all the ones. I didn't know the library did a holiday reading programme I might have to have a look on the library website. She does have her own library card, all the kids do (even little mister) because when we go to the library they want to get so many books/DVD's out at the time and they both zoom through them quickly that the 20 limit on its own is not enough, we often read them all within a couple of days and have to go back for another lot! Little mister is going through a huge thing with diggers and road works vehicles so at the moment we have all the books possible with any pictures of these in them, he has maxed out his card lol. Libraries are wonderful places!
Are the school visits not going so well? We have an appointment this week to have a look at the local school (arghhhhh!). Hopefully it is perfect (ha i must be dreaming).
Just a minor setback with school visits but at this transition time I'm pretty paranoid about getting the best possible placement that small comments that show a complete lack of understanding of our situation are really annoying! Can't share here though ;).
Son's reading programme was through our district libraries, but I'm sure your area will have something too. I think Nikki's 1st born did one.
How did you get on with more difficult puzzles/chess?
Thats no good about the school visits, hopefully things improve before your son is there full time!
We still have no ink in our printer but once we do I will print out some of those things, also the website that someone else popped up either on that thread or someone elses (I can't remember) with a whole heap of games on it is good, we have found a couple that she likes. I have started making up little code notes for her and giving her simple codes to crack which she is REALLY enjoying, at first I gave her the whole key and now I am leaving out a couple of letters for her to work out (simple things like numbers in order etc) and I have left a couple of little notes for her in code for when she gets up in the morning (she thinks its so fun lol) and I might leave a small coded note in her lunch box for kindy next week see if she does it (she has been complaining of kindy being boring at the moment). Also word finds are fun at the moment. She has started using the Camelot game as a Romeo and Juliet stage (because you have to help the prince to get to the princess) and so when she is playing the game and working it out she pretends it is Romeo trying to get to Juliet and so the game wasn't a complete waste. She has started teaching her younger sister how to do Rush Hour and so they are both enjoying it now rather than her getting all frustrated and angry because miss 3 'does it wrong'. Haven't tried chess yet but will get a set next week and I will have to teach myself to play first before attempting to teach her!
