Education
Free Printable Reading Log
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By Aimee Sawyer, Product Marketing Manager at Khan Academy Kids and former preschool teacher
Click here to download the FREE printable reading log.
When kids use a reading log to track what books they read, they feel a healthy sense of pride and accomplishment. For young kids, a reading log like this one can even be an introduction to setting a goal and working toward it—especially if there’s an incentive waiting for them when they’ve filled out their entire log.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about filling out a reading log. It’s about helping kids develop a genuine love of reading. If we can create positive experiences around reading, it’ll set kids up for a lifetime of success (Children’s Bureau, 2023). And it’ll make it a lot easier for them to fly through books and get that reading log filled out! Read on for tips about making reading more fun and educational.
- Let kids choose the books. Remember in high school, when your teacher assigned books to read that were sometimes difficult to get through? We’re almost always going to be more interested in reading books we’ve chosen ourselves. The same is true for kids (Guthrie and Humenick, 2004). Let them choose their own books for independent browsing and nightly read-alouds. (Yes, even if it means you’ll be delivering another recitation of Goodnight, Moon). If your bookshelf needs a refresh, take a trip to your local library or check out this free app that has hundreds of free books. And don’t forget to add the book title to the reading log before calling it a night!
- Ask questions while you read. Boost the educational value of story time by making the story interactive. Asking simple questions like “What do you think will happen next?” or “What would you do if you were Goldilocks?” is an easy way to pull kids further into the story. It also helps them build their reading comprehension skills. Make sure to give them plenty of time to think about their answers! It’s easy to forget that children need more time to think and respond than adults do (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2020).
- Focus on the quality time instead of the story. The most important element of a positive reading experience is you. Parents and teachers are children’s safe havens, and they’re going to be engaged in an activity if it means they have your undivided attention. So snuggle in, be present, and be prepared to say yes to just one more. Because when reading is a together experience rather than a chore, kids can’t help but love it.
- Pause and ask your child to fill in the words. Even before kids can read on their own, they can memorize bits and pieces of the story—especially stories you’ve read together time and time again or those with repetitive elements. When it comes to these parts of the story, pause and let your child “read” (Raising Children Network, 2023). They’ll love being involved, and you’ll be surprised by how much they remember!
- Build a reading fort. Reading forts are just plain fun, no matter how old you are. Devoting a corner of a room—or even a closet—to a cozy nook with pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals will give story time a new and exciting look and feel. This is especially helpful for older kids who may be feeling like story time or required reading time are losing their charm. With some new library books and a few fluffy elements, reading will feel magical again in no time.
- Take breaks. When kids are new to developing their reading skills and starting to sound out words, it takes an immense amount of energy and concentration to read. If you’re noticing some disinterest in reading, there’s a chance it may be indicative of burnout. Renew their love of reading by taking breaks before your child’s feelings of frustration grow too big. Take a break by going back to your roots and reading books to them, picking easier titles, or just taking the day off altogether.
So, whether you’re reading tonight with a bedtime favorite, a new library adventure, or one of the new books in our free app, don’t forget to enjoy the journey and track the titles you’ve read along the way with the reading log! Together we can raise a generation of joyful readers.
This reading log and these reading tips are brought to you by Khan Academy Kids, a free educational app for kids ages 2-8. With hundreds of reading and math games and a library of 400+ books, the learning fun never ends. Download today!
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Aimee Sawyer
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