Reading Response Logs

I really like the idea of reading response logs as a tool to get to know your students.  Tovani describes the reading response logs saying, “The logs allow students a place to practice and demonstrate their use of the strategies they are learning in class. It is also a place for me to assess their understanding of the strategies,” (110).  Tovani suggests allowing your students to pick their own books to read gives you an idea of what genres interest them. For example if you have a student who does not do any of the work you assign but he/she always has their reading response journal done you may be able to infer that the student has no interest in the genres you are assigning. I also like the reading response journals because they encourage independent reading and the responses don't require too much so students should not feel pressured when completing the logs. More importantly, I have seen teachers successfully use reading logs and they tend to be very helpful to students. In addition to being helpful, students tend to be very excited about completing reading response logs, because though it is assigned work, they have free will when completing them. Overall, I think this is a great tool to incorporate into any classroom.