 
To become effective readers, students need to read extensively; however, reading outside of class can require a lot of motivation. Keeping a Reading Diary can help provide this motivation by showing students their achievement of having read extensively over an extended period of time.
What is a Reading Diary?
In its most basic form, a Reading Diary is a record of what a student has read. It can simply list the titles of books or magazine articles. A more comprehensive Reading Diary, however, includes much more detail. It helps turn reading into a thinking process by making students reflect upon what they have read.
Besides the basic information of the title, author and number of pages, an entry in the Reading Diary for a work of fiction should answer some of the following questions:
- What is the genre/type of novel?
- What is the plot/story?
- What did I think the story would be about before reading it?
- Who are the main characters?
- What problems face the main character(s)?
After answering these initial questions, students should evaluate what they have read by considering some of these questions:
- How was the story different from what I had first thought?
- How did the story make me feel?
- Does a part of the story seem similar to me or to a part of my life?
- What do I like or dislike about each character?
- How do the characters change over the course of the story?
- Has the story changed my ideas or opinions in some way? How?
- What would I have changed in the story to make it better?
- If there are illustrations, how do they complement the story?
- What useful new words and phrases did I learn?
- What lines or expressions did I particularly enjoy? Why?
For works of non-fiction, similar questions to those introduced above can also be asked.
How to keep a Reading Diary?
A Reading Diary is a personal record, so the way that you keep it can also be personal. Some students write their notes on a calendar or in an appointment book. That way, as they flip back through past months, they can see how much and how often they have read. Other students incorporate their notes into a personal diary or a journal.
Why keep a Reading Diary?
Keeping a Reading Diary has many benefits. One benefit is that it improves students' writing skills. Also, students, who read extensively and keep notes on what they have read, are more likely to discuss what they have read with their friends or classmates; thereby, enhancing both their thinking and speaking skills.
What is the teacher's role in the Reading Diary?
Teachers have different approaches towards using Reading Diaries. Some teachers simply introduce the Reading Diary and then do not worry about monitoring what their students write. Other teachers ask students to treat their Reading Diaries like a series of book reports that are to be handed in for marking. Others monitor students by asking them what they have read and who they think might enjoy the same book. Whichever approach is chosen, it is useful to establish guidelines of what you want students to include.
Finally, an important role of the teacher is to point students in the direction of stories you think that they will enjoy. Read and Think! provides numerous starting points for students to find novels, short stories, poetry, plays and non-fiction topics to read. Work with your students to help them help themselves.
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