Reading-Rewards reading log

Do you struggle with getting your students to read? Or do they read, but not log their reading? Do their reading logs never get signed or mysteriously vanish? Do your students magically need to run to the bathroom when you try to check their reading logs? I have the solution for you-Reading-Rewards!

Here is a video I created to teach students how to log their reading.

Students are really motivated for a few reasons. 

1. They can choose and change their avatar.

2. They earn badges and RR miles.

3. It is a social thing. Others can see what they are logging, or not logging.

4. Because they can see what other classmates are reading, they often want to read those books, too.

5. They know they are going to be held accountable. Believe it or not, they like this in fourth grade.

Check out some of my (free) rewards they can choose from. This year, they are all about sitting with a friend and reading to another teacher's class. Previous classes really loved to sit at the teacher's desk, have lunch with the teacher, and to be teacher for a day.

Here is a rubric I created. Students get a monthly reading homework grade. I actually give students a copy of the school calendar and have them color in the days they logged. Then they look at their online log to give themselves a grade. They also keep a copy of the rubric stapled into their homework folder.

What do you think? Are you willing to try it out with your class? 

Do you already use Reading-Rewards or do you have another system?

Writing Leads

In my class, we tend to compare writing to food. For my vegetarians, we compare it to an ice cream cone. A story with a missing beginning or ending might be just a cone. A story with a nice beginning and okay middle might be a one scoop vanilla cone. A story with a great beginning, middle, and end might be a vanilla cone with sprinkles. A story with all of that plus great figurative language, dialogue, and paragraphing might be a triple scoop strawberry cone with sprinkles, whipped cream, and a cherry on top! Click the picture to download from Mrs. Guillo's TPT!

For my non-vegetarians, we also use the cheeseburger analogy - is it missing the beginning and / or end? If so then, it doesn't have a bun. If it's missing the middle, it might be just the bun and no meat. If it's spectactular, it has cheese, pickles, onions, and ketchup! Otherwise, the writing might leave us "hungry" and wanting more. Get the idea? (This example only goes to a 4. Our report cards and reading series use a 4, but our state uses a 5...looks like everyone needs to get on the same page with common core!)

Scholastic's Leads and Endings

 My favorite mentor texts for leads include the I Survived Pack from Scholastic.

Click each picture to read excerpts.

The three books in this pack include:

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005,

"Barry! Barry!"

Dad was pounding down the stairs. He splashed through the water, grabbed Barry by the arm, lifting him up, and pulled him toward the staircase. Furniture and other objects floated around them like bath toys - the new couch Mom had saved for a year to buy, the little square lamp table where Gramps used to play chess, framed pictures of Barry and Cleo from school. The water was rising fast! It was up to Barry's waist by the time they reached the stairs - and it kept getting higher. It was like their house was a bucket being filled by the biggest hose in the world. 

I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916,

Elm Hills, New Jersey in the Matawan Creek

A feeling of terror came over ten-year-old Chet Roscow, a chill deep down in his bones. He had been swimming in the Matawan Creek by himself. But he had an idea that someone - or something - was watching him.

and I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic,1912.

Unsinkable.

     Unsinkable.

     George whispered those words like a prayer, over and over in his mind. He thought of Mr. Andrews, of how sure he was of this ship.
      But he no longer stared at that water, that foaming green water, rising higher every second, the more certain he became: The Titanic was in trouble.

There is also other single books that haven't made their way into the pack yet -

I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941  

and I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906.

What are your favorite writing resources?