To help with this, I’ve put together a free printable PDF Summer Reading Log for Teachers. This reading log is designed to help you set goals, track your progress, and reflect on your learning.

Plus, it’s fun to keep a tally of which books you have read from summer to summer!

How Can Teachers Use A Professional Development Books Reading Log

As a teacher, you should make it a habit of reading at least one professional development book every quarter. To start, add the books you plan to read to your Books Reading Log, taking note of the reading goal, date of completion, and key takeaways. The log can be divided into columns based on the information you need to capture, for example, column headers could include the date, book title, author, number of pages, publisher, genre, reading goal, and the takeaway from the book.

As you fill out the log, you can reflect on what you learned and how it relates to your job. This reflection process can help you set future reading goals, and keep you motivated. Once you are done with a book, take a few moments to write a brief review, this will help you retain the knowledge you gained, and later, apply it in class.

Keeping a reading log allows you to set reading goals, track progress, and reflect on your learning. It makes it easier for you to remember what you read, how it related to your professional growth, and the questions or insights you gained after reading. Additionally, teachers who maintain reading logs can discover and explore new ideas, which leads to improved knowledge and instructional practices.

Free Printable PDF Books Reading Log

I understand that many teachers are already swamped with responsibilities, and that’s why I have created a free PDF Books Reading Log that can help you keep track of your reading over the summer break or any time of the year. You can easily download and print the PDF file, making it a simple and effective tool for your professional development.

Feel free to use a pen to write in the titles of books you would like to read in the future on the blank book spines.  They could be specific to teaching – or just for pleasure (we all know how it important it is for all readers to read a variety of books).

As you finish a book, grab some colored pencils to color in the spines to show your progress.

Additionally, the PDF book reading log is free, which means it won’t cost you anything to start using.

Need some more classroom organization ideas?  
Grab this 15-pack of eBooks created specifically for classroom teachers!

Includes 15 digital books:  

• Calendar Organization and Lesson Planning: 70 pages and 14 bonus freebie files 
• Classroom Seating Charts: 188 pages 
• Classroom Management for Classroom Teachers: 105 pages and 16 bonus freebie files 
• Staff Morale Solutions: 111 pages and 15 bonus freebie files 
• Classroom Routines: 106 pages and 15 bonus freebie files 
• Classroom Technology: 105 pages and 11 bonus freebie files 
• Differentiation Tips for Teachers: 45 pages and 8 bonus freebie files  
• 25 Classroom DIY Projects: 219 pages and 11 bonus freebie files 
• End of School Year Tips for Teachers: 70 pages and 10 bonus freebie files 
• Assessment & Parent Conference Tips for Teachers: 82 pages and 14 bonus freebie files 
• Back to School Teacher Ideas: 114 pages and 14 bonus freebie files 
• Creating Classroom Libraries: 41 pages and 6 bonus freebie files 
• Seasonal School Celebrations: 416 pages and 61 bonus freebie files 
• Classroom Teacher Workspaces: 108 pages and 16 bonus freebie files 
• Classroom Storage Solutions: 83 pages and 13 bonus freebie files 

…and even more! Includes hundreds of additional freebie files! 

Setting Goals, Tracking Progress, and Reflection

Some additional things you could add to the blank side of the paper or in a separate journal:

Setting goals: You can write down what you want to accomplish through your summer reading, including how many books you want to read and what topics you want to focus on.

Tracking your progress:  You can record the title, author, and date completed for each book you read. You can also rate each book and write down any notes or takeaways you have.

Reflection:  You can reflect on what you’ve learned through your reading and how you can apply that knowledge to your teaching practice.

Having a reading log like this can help you stay accountable and motivated during the summer months. You can also use it as a useful tool for professional development by choosing books that will help you grow in areas related to your teaching practice.

To get your free printable summer reading log for teachers, simply download the PDF below.

Keeping a reading log can be an essential part of a teacher’s professional development. It allows for easy tracking of progress, insights and improvements in both knowledge and practices. As an educator, it’s important to keep sharpening your saw. And with the summer reading log for teachers, you have a free, printable, and practical solution to help you achieve your professional development goals.

Happy reading!

~Charity

The post Summer Reading Log for Teachers appeared first on Organized Classroom.

1. DIY Travel Coloring Cases.  Personally, I would maybe even try index card or soap boxes which you might have leftover from school supplies.

2.  Road Trip Scavenger Hunt.  I like this one for the littles in the family as the images are super clear to pick up and can easily be spotted when in the car.  Even if you are just going across town to the grocery store.

3.  Teen Road Trip Survival Box.  Even the older students would love something to keep them busy if they are going on a family vacation – or just to a local family picnic.  You could pick and choose a few printables that are brain teasers to mix it up a bit!

You might want to check out:

Need some new ideas for your end of the school year routine?  This 70 page digital book has you covered!

Includes 10 articles from Organized Classroom, including topics such as:

• Printable Award Certificates
• How To Pack Up Your Classroom Faster Than Ever
• Fun Summer Reading Challenge for Students
• DIY Unique Award Ceremony Ribbons
• Planning Your EOY Party in a Snap
• Super Cute Tag for EOY Student Gift

…and even more!

Now available in our Shop!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price! 

See it HERE.

4.  Camping Scavenger Hunt Cards

5.  DIY Road Trip I Spy.  The cutest part about this option?  The “markers” are food so little ones won’t be in danger with small pieces.

6.  Road Trip Hypothesis Worksheet.  Science and summer together equals awesome!

7.  Kids Travel Kit Binder.  I love that everything fits inside the binder to make it easy to grab and go!  And you might even have the students repurpose their own binders from the school year for this project!

8.  Bottle Cap Checkers.  I think this is super fun for students to play in the summer!  Grab a bag of bottle caps at the craft store and have students make their own as an end of the school year craftivity!  Print off a free checkerboard pattern on cardstock, laminate, and you have a perfect send off to summer gift from you!

9.  Games for Tweens and Teens.  Even older students love fun!

10.  Activity Bag Ideas.  While this idea shows the bags to be used as road trip activities, another idea would be to “meet” students weekly at the library to “trade” in their bag for another.  If they don’t show up for 2 weeks, that’s ok.  They will just trade their bag when they come in.  If they never show up, they keep the bag they were given on the last day of school.  Would even be a great way to connect with new students and their parents if you are lucky enough to already have a class roster before the next school year begins.

11.  Summer Reading Rockets – BINGO Style!  You just can’t end a summer learning post without mentioning reading.  This one is super fun though and I bet students would be more than eager to get some reading in over the break.

12 – DIY Class Yearbook! This fun printable will be a great end of the year activity for those very last days of school before summer break. Simply download and print the file below.

There is one page for 2024 and another for filling in the dates on their own. Print your page double-sided and have the students mix randomly to draw a picture of something they remember from the school year on one of the “photos” and write a message to the recipient.

A really fun memento from the year!

What other ideas would you add to the list that is useful and keeps students thinking throughout the summer?  We would love to hear your ideas in the comments below too!

~Charity

The post Fun Summer Ideas for Your Students appeared first on Organized Classroom.

As a child, I loved camping, tent and all. I could spend hours and hours just sitting around the campsite.  When I was older and in middle school, I was a regular plus one in my best friend’s family when they went camping every weekend.  

We would walk in a small group around that campground like we owned it – haha!  In fact, I pretty much remember just walking and chatting with friends the entire time.  Maybe a campfire or 2 thrown in for good measure at night.

You might want to check out:

Need some new ideas for hosting successful classroom celebrations?  This 416 page digital book has you covered! Includes 61 ad-free articles from Organized Classroom, including holidays such as:

• Groundhog Day
• Winter
• Black History
• Valentines Day
• St. Patricks Day
• Earth Day
• Spring
• Mothers Day
• Memorial Day
• Summer
• Independence Day
• Fall
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas

…and even more!

Now available in our Shop!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!

See it HERE.

Now as an adult, I am not a huge fan of camping.  Something about dirt and bugs isn’t as appealing as it once was to me.  Perhaps I’m more of a glamper now.  But I still do enjoy long hikes through the woods and I do like outdoor nature hunts.

What is a nature hunt?

Nature hunts are perfect for any age!  They are easy to set up and can take place at the lake, local park, or even in someone’s backyard.

Students are given a set of clues for specific items to look for – and they try to see how many they can find from their list.  It is like real life bingo.

Every hunt will be a unique experience since you never know what you will find.  The best hunts are about seeing various plants and animals in their natural state.

Need a new birthday party idea?  DIY your own nature hunt card set and let the fun begin – good for both adults and kids alike!

Simple Kids Camping Games

1. While sitting around the campfire.  Seems obvious, but how many kids complain they can “never think of anything” when asked to do narrative writing?  This is a great opportunity to show them they have tons of ideas.

2. Play a card or dice game.  War is great even for little ones because it reinforced the concept of smaller and larger place value in numbers.

3.  Bring along recipe cards for items like S’mores or a campfire skillet dinner.  Have children help out by reading the ingredients, steps incolved in preparation.  Lastly, have them help out by consuming the great creation you just made together!

4.  Be a nature spotter.  Have children use a digital camera or cell phone tosnap shots of things they find on a nature walk that are living.  Non-living items don’t count.  See how long it takes to get to 15!

5.  Use a metal detector to see if you can locate a hidden treasure.  Once you have dug up the old coin or can, work together to come up with a story about the history of the item.

6.  Find shapes in the real-world.  See how many different you can find each of the following while on a walk:  circle, square, triangle, and rhombus.  Keep a tally and make a quick bar graph when you get back to camp.

7.  Go geocaching!  If you have not yet heard of this – please check out http://www.geocaching.com/.  It involves finding small parcels, usually with trinkets and a visitor log inside.  Working together, you must use coordinates and mapping (along with handy hints) to find the mystery prize.  Make sure to bring a trinket or two of your own to leave behind when replacing the cache back to its original location for the next finder.

8.  Create a real-life diorama!  Take a shoe box, some glue, and some modeling clay and let the chilren go wild finding pine cones, tree branches, and grass to create a real diorama!

9.  Watching the clouds.  Lay with children on the ground and look up at the shapes in the clouds.  Take turns using the letters of the alphabet to find words to match the letters in order.  For example, person one might find an Alligator, while person two would locate a Bus, etc.

10. Last, but not least, look below for a free 11-page printable for a camping scavenger hunt – great fun!  

No need to create your own.  

Organized Classroom has you covered with a set ready to be downloaded and printed right now:

Enjoy!  How else do you encourage your students to continue learning throughout the summer?  We would love to hear your ideas listed in a comment below.

~Charity

The post Camping + Learning = Summer Fun! appeared first on Organized Classroom.