If you are organized and keep track of what you read throughout the year...

[Guest]

What have you found to be the best way to do that? We read A LOT! But, the only books I've actually written down are the chapter read alouds that we've done, that are in no way related to history or science or any other subject. I have a whopping 5 on my list. We've read a TON, and so I'm totally feeling down that I have a list of 5. I haven't kept track of what ds reads, and I haven't kept track of all the books we've read for history, science, math, etc. I'm totally feeling like a slacker, but I know we aren't. I'm wondering if others keep track of everything and if so, what is the best way to do so? I do a notebook at the end of the year where I list everything we've read, but this year I'm thinking that won't happen.

[Five More Minutes]

I get this! I've resigned myself to not tracking absolutely everything that we read, but I am able to capture our read-alouds by writing them in my weekly lesson planner as we do them.

 

For my dds' independent reading, I've finally found something that is really working for us. I make up a list of around 12 books that I want each dd to read independently. I print those titles, along with three blanks for "reader's choice books", on a page with spots for stickers to go when they're completed. (Stickers still motivate them to track things.) When my dds complete a sheet of 15 titles, they get to purchase a book of their choice (from a pre-selected Amazon wish list :-) ), and I have a record of all of those books read.

 

Every quarter, I collect in one place the titles of all of those books read together and independently.

[Julie Smith]

I do keep track. I have since 2008. I record anything we read or listen to that takes more then an hour (with a few exceptions). This means we have no picture books on the list. It just would have gotten out of control fast to record everything.

 

I keep track of things in an excel spreadsheet.

[Guest]

I get this! I've resigned myself to not tracking absolutely everything that we read, but I am able to capture our read-alouds by writing them in my weekly lesson planner as we do them.

 

For my dds' independent reading, I've finally found something that is really working for us. I make up a list of around 12 books that I want each dd to read independently. I print those titles, along with three blanks for "reader's choice books", on a page with spots for stickers to go when they're completed. (Stickers still motivate them to track things.) When my dds complete a sheet of 15 titles, they get to purchase a book of their choice (from a pre-selected Amazon wish list :-) ), and I have a record of all of those books read.

 

Every quarter, I collect in one place the titles of all of those books read together and independently.

 

LOVE this idea! I think I'm going to start doing this.

I do keep track. I have since 2008. I record anything we read or listen to that takes more then an hour (with a few exceptions). This means we have no picture books on the list. It just would have gotten out of control fast to record everything.

 

I keep track of things in an excel spreadsheet.

 

 

That's a great rule of thumb!

[Chrysalis Academy]

I was tracking it, but I've recently given dd that responsibility. She has a clipboard with a form on it, and when she finishes a book she writes it down (date completed/subject area/author/title). Once a sheet is full I enter it onto our computer list.

 

It's great to look back on, it will help for planning with dd#2, and it makes it easy to answer people's questions about "what your X year old is reading"!! ;)

[Momof3littles]

I keep track because the law says I have to in my state. So I keep a spreadsheet. DS1 is a voracious reader and I am sure I miss a lot of things he reads, but we have more than enough to make it obvious he reads constantly. I am only including things we read outside of school time for the most part; I'm not including chapters in SOTW, for example. It would just be too much for me.

[brownie]

Most of our books come from the library, so every week as I go to return them, I pile them up next to my computer and type them into a spreadsheet.

[Julie Smith]

I use to just have a column for year read out loud. Then I had to add a column for books Eldest read to himself. I also recently had to add a column for books Youngest listens to by himself. I can see eventually having to have a lot of columns. I also have a Notes section for every book. I might write something such as, "Eldest really liked this book, Youngest did not."