Reading & literacy activity
My Reading Journal
Start a reading journal! After each book, draw your favorite part and tell an adult what the story was about.
Materials and setup
- notebook
- pencil
- colored pencils
- books
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Start a reading journal! After each book, draw your favorite part and tell an adult what the story was about.
Steps
- Read a picture book together.
- Ask your child: 'What was your favorite part?' and 'Who was in the story?'
- Have your child draw their favorite scene in a special notebook.
- Write the book title and date at the top of the page (parent can help).
- Over time, look back through the journal to see all the books you've enjoyed.
Learning objectives
- Recall and discuss key events from a read-aloud
- Express comprehension through drawing
- Build a habit of reflecting on reading
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Keep a reading journal with entries for each book: title, author, favorite character, and a short opinion. Rate each book with stars.
Steps
- After reading a book, write the title and author in your journal.
- Draw your favorite character and write their name.
- Write 1-2 sentences about what happened in the story.
- Write 1 sentence about your opinion: Did you like it? Why or why not?
- Give the book a star rating (1-5 stars) and explain your rating.
Learning objectives
- Record basic bibliographic information
- Summarize a story in simple sentences
- Form and express opinions about books with reasons
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Keep a 1-week journal of what you read each day with one favorite line copied out. Pick your favorite entry. Read it aloud to a younger sibling or friend.
Steps
- Each day for 1 week, write down what you read: title, author, and how many pages.
- Pick one favorite line or sentence from each day's reading and copy it carefully into your journal.
- At the end of the week, look back through and pick your single favorite entry.
- Practice reading that favorite line aloud with expression.
- Read it aloud to a younger sibling or friend and tell them why you picked it.
Learning objectives
- Maintain a daily reading log across a full week
- Select and hand-copy a favorite sentence, noticing what made it stand out
- Read a chosen passage aloud with expression and explain the choice to a younger listener
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
2-week reading journal. Then select your 3 best entries and rewrite them as a 'What to Read Next' guide for a younger kid.
Steps
- For 2 weeks, keep a daily reading journal: title, author, pages read, and a few sentences about what happened or what you thought.
- After 2 weeks, look back and select your 3 best entries — the books you'd most want to recommend.
- Rewrite each of those 3 as a 'What to Read Next' guide entry for a younger kid: one paragraph each that sells the book without spoiling it.
- Read your guide aloud to that younger kid.
- Reflect: Did they want to read any of your picks? Why or why not?
Learning objectives
- Sustain a daily reading journal over two weeks
- Select and rewrite personal journal entries as spoiler-free book recommendations for a younger audience
- Reflect on whether a written recommendation actually persuaded the intended reader
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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