Printable Reading Log

How to make a reading log

1. Choose the layout. Weekly, monthly calendar, daily log, or a list of books read (all four are explained below).
2. Choose what to count. Minutes suit younger readers; pages suit chapter books. You can have both.
3. Add the words. Change the title, type the student’s name, or leave the name empty so they can write it in. A goal such as “20 minutes a day” prints at the top.
4. Pick the paper and a color. Choose “Gray” to save colored ink.
5. Print. In the print window, choose your printer, or “Save as PDF” to keep a copy or send it home by email.

Which reading log to choose

• Weekly. One row for each day (every day, or Monday to Friday), with the date, what was read, the minutes or pages and the parent’s initials, a total for the week and a box for the best part. It fits a homework folder that goes home on Monday and comes back on Friday.
• Monthly calendar. A real calendar for the month you choose, with a box for each day. Children write the minutes in the box, which makes a good fridge page and a quick picture of the month. Make one for June, July and August for a summer reading log.
• Daily log. A running list of dates and titles, 8 to 25 rows. It suits older readers who read a bit of several things.
• Books I’ve read. Title, author, the date finished and a five-star rating. Keep one for the whole year, or use it for a reading challenge.

Keep the log low-pressure

Reading logs are meant to build a habit, but they can backfire when they feel like a chore. In a study of 112 second and third graders, children who had to keep a reading log became less interested in reading for fun than children whose log was voluntary (Pak and Weseley, 2012). Some ways to keep the good part:

• Let children choose what they read. Comics, magazines and audiobooks with the text all count.
• Use the log to talk about books, not to check minutes. The weekly log’s “best part” box and the star ratings are good starting points.
• Count books or favorite moments instead of minutes for readers who find timing stressful.
• Try other ideas too. Edutopia suggests reading partners who talk about their books for a few minutes a day, and notes on moments that surprised or delighted the reader.

What you type stays with you

The log is made in your browser. Your choices and the name you type are kept in this browser’s storage so they’re there next time, and they’re never sent to us. Press Start over to clear them.

Sources

• Pak, S. S. and Weseley, A. J. (2012). The Effect of Mandatory Reading Logs on Children’s Motivation to Read. Journal of Research in Education, 22(1), 251–265.
• Boryga, A. (2022). When Reading Logs Backfire, What Can Teachers Do Instead? Edutopia.