Fun Fall Apple Tree Reading Log
Twenty minutes past bedtime, my daughter asked me to read her a story. We’d gotten home late from soccer practice, and I hurried everyone through their evening routines. Finally, I turned out the light and went to kiss Isabella goodnight.
“Mommy, you have to read me a story,” she announced.
I took a deep breath.
“No, it’s too late. You need to go to sleep.”
“Mommy, you have to,” she chirped. “It’s my homework that you read me a bedtime story.”
Sweet girl. It’s true that her kindergarten teacher has asked that parents read aloud daily. Normally, we read plenty. Probably more than most families. So I wasn’t worried about skipping a night.
Still, I feel guilty.
I like much better the concept of a reading log like Liam, my third grader, has. We read extra on the nights that aren’t as busy. Then we can skip or shorten the busy days and still read enough overall.
Little Kid Reading Log
I wanted to make a fun reading log that my kindergartners would love. A plain spreadsheet style one just wouldn’t do.
I remembered a display I had up one year when I taught fifth grade. On the wall, I taped up a HUGE paper tree. Then, I gave my students paper leaves and told them to write down titles of books they’d recommend to their classmates. The result was both interactive and attractive.
In designing a reading log, I wandered a bit and chose an apple tree. I love apple trees as a symbol of fall, and it’s an easy shape to write inside of. You could also use this as part of a larger apple unit or with other Johnny Appleseed printables.
Free Printable
Now we have a fun way to keep track of our kindergarten homework. It’s all downhill from here.
I’ve figured out how to deal with my strong-willed son and homework. It will be a new adventure learning how to juggle the homework needs of the twins on top of that. I hope we don’t have too many late nights.
This post was part of the KBN Kindergarten Blog Hop.
Be sure to check out all the other wonderful Apple-themed resources listed below.
Art – Apple Fingerprint Art by Kidz Activities
Writing – Apple Name Printable by P is for Preschooler
I used to love recording which books I had read as a child!
I wish I'd kept a reading log as a child, and saved it. It would be so much fun to look back at now. As an adult, I've kept lists of books I've read so I can remember them to recommend to friends or revisit an author I liked.
This is a perfect reading log for younger kids. You could also use dot markers if you had kids who weren't as into coloring. I think it's adorable that your daughter loves to read so much – although probably not so adorable at the end of a long day!
Oooh! Dot markers is a clever idea! Liam would've loved those at that age.
My kids loved the satisfaction they got from filling out their summer reading log for the library program. I never thought of using another at home log for them but I love this idea. 🙂
Thanks. Mine actually weren't interested in the library summer reading program, much to my disappointment. I'm hoping this visual will motivated them a little more.
This is super cool! Anytime you can make reading fun by adding a cute chart is really great for reluctant readers..Thanks for participating in the KBN Kindergarten Blog Hop!
Thanks! I loved all the great ideas!
Such a great idea! Our kids are participating in a reading challenge at school and have to log how many minutes they read each day. Like you said, there are a few days when it does not fit in, but we make up on other days.
Yes, my son has done a lot of that lately. It's helped to set our timer counting up instead of down. So instead of stopping at 20 minutes, he keeps reading if he is still enjoying it, and banks the extra time. Lately he hasn't wanted to stop – a new thing for him!