Reading Diaries- Just the Tip of the Iceberg
- evecvollans
- Nov 13, 2021
- 3 min read
A few days ago, I was invited to speak to a different trust of schools, a headteachers meeting alongside their CEO. The topic was Online Reading Diaries. As I spoke and explained how over the years I have tried to develop strategies to record reading at home, the more I realised that reading diaries are "just the tip of the iceberg".
The real issue is not the signing of diaries. The real issue is involving the children in reading. Inspiring, engaging and promoting reading in as many ways as possible. I see over the past few days on social media, parents and teachers are debating about reading diaries. Do parents have the time/the will to complete them? As teachers, do they tell us the true picture about reading at home?
A recent Twitter poll would suggest not so much. 88% of the teachers felt that traditional reading diaries are not beneficial to them. The 12% remainder, felt that they were unsure of their impact.
Something needs to change. This is not the fault of the paper reading diary.
We need to move away from the home- school reading divide.
But how?
It goes deeper than a reading diary.
The COVID pandemic has made us all readjust a lot of things in our lives.
So, let's talk about reading at home.
Should we continue with traditional reading diaries? Yes, they work well when parents are engaged and children are engaged and enjoy reading. But, what about those children who do not enjoy reading? What about those children who have difficult home lives and are not encouraged to read? What about those families where reading is not seen as important?
A change is needed. Instead of looking at the negatives, let's look at how this can be flipped to focus on the positives.
Look at your whole school reading offer. How do you support those children in school, that you know will not be reading at home? That you know, will not be bringing in a signed reading diary on Monday? Is it best that your teaching staff spend time marking reading diaries, or is it the best use of their time to be leading evidence based reading sessions with the lowest 20%?
As a teacher, a leader (and a parent), I know which I would prefer.
I have created a reading offer for the children at my school, which supports every child (that is every child, not just pupil premium children), who need support with phonics and reading. It has taken time.
How?
I created a bespoke CPD package for the Teaching Assistants, alongside the Teachers. Yes, it means that the Teaching Assistants have 45 minutes per week out of class for their CPD session. But, isn't it worth it? Absolutely!
Every member of teaching staff is trained to lead our phonics scheme lessons. Teachers team teach so that the most qualified and experienced teachers lead the phonics interventions with our KS2 children. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
Online reading scheme. Worth it? Absolutely!
Reading for Pleasure/ Bedtime Story Books. Worth it? Absolutely!
Reading for Pleasure Class Scrap Books. Worth it? Absolutely!
Knowledge Organisers for Reading sessions. Worth it? Absolutely!
Before school and after school evidence based reading interventions. Worth it? Absolutely!
Weekly evening family and child led reading group. Worth it? Absolutely!
Calendar of Reading Events. Worth it? Absolutely!
Ending paper reading diaries. Worth it? Absolutely!
Listen to Me Become a Reader- Reading Video / Audio Diaries. Worth it? Absolutely!
Follow Me
Twitter : @real_reading
Comments