More Thoughts on Reading Journals with Younger Kids

In response to a question about reading journals with Thomas Jefferson Education: Should I require reading journals in every subject area?

If I were in your shoes, I think 1 paragraph for each subject is PLENTY. BTW, if your child is under 10, I’m not sure I would have her writing that much. One thing I would encourage with younger kids is to have them narrate to you what they learned. You can type it on the computer and print it out for them. Then, let them use it for copywork/penmanship the next day. This will give them a double reinforcement. You might even try this with oral reports to daddy. You can write down what she says at dinner and then print it out the next day. If you want to use one of the narration exercises for a “writing assignment”, then you can spend the next week or so adding dress ups or whatever they have learned so far.

My encouragement is not to be “wooden” in your application of reading journals. Think about why you are having them do a reading journal and plan your entries around that reason. Be flexible with your kids. The point is not to make a reading journal assignment, but for your kids to LOVE LEARNING, not hate reading journal or writing assignments by overdoing it.

Kerry