Not Hot For Teacher

Not too long ago I wrote about my 4^th grader’s required reading log for school that is due each Monday.  He has to read at least 100 minutes per week and list the name of the book(s) and the minutes read, and then I initial each entry. Well, just having to keep a log annoys me because with him and two older kids, I have seen too many road blocks put in place by some educators that get in the way of reading for enjoyment.   

He may have a teacher next year that does not require a reading log, and my 7^th and 9^th grade sons don’t do this any longer, so this particular battle’s days are numbered….but I’m I won't take this sitting down.  Once again my son is being punished over a reading log not being signed by me, and I really hate that it is even associated with reading.  And Youngest went above and beyond to make sure I signed what he had read.....

Two Sundays ago it began to snow and ice and school was canceled last week.  Well, that Sunday right before the snow started, my son was getting his papers together for me to sign, getting ready as usual for school the next day.  And he really is the Parental Signature Police—he asks me over and over to sign his agenda (yeah, that has to get signed each night too), sign a permission slip, and so on.  He told me that he left his folder at school that has his reading log sheet and asked if I could write a note instead.  So I got a sheet of paper and wrote,  “My child did not bring home his reading log sheet, so I am writing this note.  Last week he read (and I listed a book and a magazine) and his reading time totaled over 100 minutes.  We will add this info to his log sheet."

Today at work I had this vision of him sitting in from recess as I could not remember if that note was for the snow week or the prior week (and with the kids attending school for 4 days out of the last 31 days things are even hazy for me--the mom with a memory like a steel trap).  While in the kitchen getting dinner ready  I asked him if he gave his teacher the note about how he read….and he tells me that he and a few others had to sit out at recess.  But then he clarified that they didn’t sit out—they went outside but did not get to play with friends—they had to walk in a friggin circle path (he didn’t say friggin).  He said to the teacher, “But I gave you a note from my mom.”  I am unclear as to her response.

So I am all “Are you kidding ME??!!!???” and Hubs in the living room asks what is going on and I relay and he says “I guess you’ll have to email her.”  (he works down the hall from the teacher). (and he is way over the reading log crap and he doesn't require it for his students).

Which, I have no problem doing.  I am a little unclear as to whether the issue is that my son needed the note to list two weeks of log details (my note listed the week prior to the snow).  Bottom line is that the reading log does not help one little bit at all and actually this teacher is not his one and only teacher.  He goes to another teacher for math and language arts—and wouldn’t reading fall under language arts and not science which she teaches?

Last year when he was in the media center he had a teacher point out which books he should select because they were labeled as Accelerated Reader (of which I am vehemently opposed because he can read whatever books he wants to and I still feel the same even though in middle school 5% of the language arts grade depends on reading AR books).  And now twice this year he (and other kids) have recess withheld if a parent didn’t sign off on a reading log on a Monday.   It is not about the recess.  This Reading Log is not an incentive.   This is chipping away at a love of reading.  Mama Lion is mad.

(Or maybe I should say that Mama Wolf is mad.  It is the Full Wolf Moon tonight.  Very overcast here but should clear up tonight to see it!).