What's the point of required reading?

It just hit me that my students also have to put together a book report poster once a year. 😁 They actually get graded on them, which counts toward their final mark. But honestly? I’m not grading them on how much artistic talent they have; I’m looking at the concept behind the work. You would be genuinely shocked by the kind of wild, out-of-the-box ideas these kids come up with.
My class loves to go all out with acting, too. One time, I even managed to trick the school administration into ordering a massive pile of props, wigs, and costumes for us.

hiddendriver34 said:It just hit me that my students also have to put together a book report poster once a year. 😁 They actually get graded on them, which counts toward their final mark. But honestly? I’m not grading them on how much artistic talent they have; I’m looking at the concept behind the work. You would be genuinely shocked by the kind of wild, out-of-the-box ideas these kids come up with.
My class loves to go all out with acting, too. One time, I even managed to trick the school administration into ordering a massive pile of props, wigs, and costumes for us.

🙏
One of her favorite books was when they used to hold those mock "trials" for the main villain.
The kids had to step into the villain's shoes to explain their actions, while someone else acted as the defense attorney or the judge...

hiddendriver34 said:Is that really supposed to be the only goal here?

I read somewhere recently that the skill sets being hunted for in the global business world have flipped completely upside down over the last decade. Apparently, "teamwork" has tanked in importance, and now creativity is sitting right at the top of the most desirable traits list. These days, companies want creative individuals; being a "team player" is practically old news.

If school is meant to prepare kids for life and the actual job market, shouldn't it be encouraging them to develop the very skill that's considered most vital right now? Do you think creative assignments should be limited to art class? Because right now, you don't see them anywhere in high school.

I constantly see parents getting all worked up whenever anyone mentions "creative tasks."

By the way, I have no clue what a "pizza assignment" is either. But honestly? It sounds pretty cool. 😁

Honestly, that sounds like some trendy nonsense that eventually just ends up hitting both the boss and the worker in the face. Creativity without the ability or desire to actually work with others only works in very specific niches. On the flip side, "teamwork orientation" is also just a buzzword. Nobody cares if you're naturally "inclined" toward it—what matters is that you understand what it means to contribute to a team, respect your tasks, and realize how your actions affect everyone else on the squad.

We actually had to let go of an incredible designer a few months back. Being amazing at her craft just wasn't enough. For example, if a project manager tells her a client wants a table with square wooden legs, and she designs this gorgeous, functional table but gives it round metal legs instead, she’s messed up. She stalls the whole project team, we lose credibility with the client, and maybe even the manufacturer says it's impossible within the budget... There are very few industries where one person can just do whatever they want in a vacuum.

Group projects in our school system are supposed to teach kids how to be creative within their own slice of the pie while collaborating so everything fits together. It should be about negotiating, communicating, pitching ideas, and syncing up with what others are thinking. Sadly, group work is anything but that. Most of the time, it's just a massive source of frustration for students. I get that it's tough to supervise multiple groups at once, but they could at least start by giving more concise instructions and explaining what group work actually is, why it exists, what the benefits are, and what happens if you don't participate.

But here in the States, it usually looks like this: split into groups of three, four, or five, pick a topic from a list, and present it this Friday. Good luck with that. It's a decent idea in theory, but totally half-baked and practically meaningless in practice.

hiddendriver34 said:It just hit me that my students also have to put together a book report poster once a year. 😁 They actually get graded on them, which counts toward their final mark. But honestly? I’m not grading them on how much artistic talent they have; I’m looking at the concept behind the work. You would be genuinely shocked by the kind of wild, out-of-the-box ideas these kids come up with.
My class loves to go all out with acting, too. One time, I even managed to trick the school administration into ordering a massive pile of props, wigs, and costumes for us.

I think it all really boils down to the teacher. For those first two years in after-school care, they had this incredible teacher that they absolutely adored. They were constantly putting on plays, building little hotels, filming movies—you name it. Then she went on maternity leave and they got a substitute, and the difference was night and day.
I’m seeing something similar with my little one in preschool—we moved him to a different group this year and the change is just as obvious. I was actually terrified we were making a mistake, but in this case, I'm relieved we took the leap. My main worry now is how he'll handle elementary school since he's struggled before, especially with his fine motor skills, and hearing people say that if a kid can't use scissors by a certain age there's nothing more to be done... well, that isn't exactly comforting.

Look, obviously it all comes down to the teacher—that’s always the deciding factor—but if you look at the last few pages of this thread, nobody is even talking about the instructors. The focus has been entirely on the actual assignments.
Is a kid supposed to be drawing? Is a kid supposed to be cutting out shapes? What kind of nonsense is that?!!😠

goldeneagle36 said:I think it all really boils down to the teacher. For those first two years in after-school care, they had this incredible teacher that they absolutely adored. They were constantly putting on plays, building little hotels, filming movies—you name it. Then she went on maternity leave and they got a substitute, and the difference was night and day.
I’m seeing something similar with my little one in preschool—we moved him to a different group this year and the change is just as obvious. I was actually terrified we were making a mistake, but in this case, I'm relieved we took the leap. My main worry now is how he'll handle elementary school since he's struggled before, especially with his fine motor skills, and hearing people say that if a kid can't use scissors by a certain age there's nothing more to be done... well, that isn't exactly comforting.

There are all sorts of different worksheets out there for practicing at home with your kid. I actually tried to upload a full set for you, but for some reason, they just won't upload properly. 🤷

hiddendriver34 said:Look, obviously it all comes down to the teacher—that’s always the deciding factor—but if you look at the last few pages of this thread, nobody is even talking about the instructors. The focus has been entirely on the actual assignments.
Is a kid supposed to be drawing? Is a kid supposed to be cutting out shapes? What kind of nonsense is that?!!😠

A teacher assigns a task with a specific developmental purpose, but then the parent steps in and does the work for them. Eventually, the child falls behind, so the parent keeps doing the work just to hide the fact that they're struggling, and that’s where you get these intense reactions. It’s not really about the child anymore; it's about the parent who wants to finish the assignment and thinks the actual learning part is just a nuisance.
It’s not a failure or a sin if a child struggles with something; what they need is positive motivation, encouragement, and a clear explanation when they don't understand.
And look, I don't mean to offend anyone, but I keep seeing the same sentiment repeated over and over, so I felt compelled to weigh in.

I was specifically talking about enrollment and those extra activities you do with the kids, and honestly, the sheer amount of effort you put in—which is really commendable...
It seems like anything I say gets twisted into some kind of personal attack or criticism. My first post was just my take on the required reading list, and I figured I had every right to share my opinion just like anyone else here. Sure, these assignments are meant to spark creativity, but is a kid actually going to fall in love with literature because they have to complete a worksheet? Not really. The whole point of reading is the act of reading itself, not the busywork that follows. I’ve always been a huge reader, even though I absolutely detested writing book reports or doing those "creative" projects back in school. Did that stop me from reading? Of course not. It's just like how someone isn't going to become a book lover just because they were forced to draw a picture for a storybook.
I wasn't attacking anyone, nor was I trying to be difficult. After that, things just devolved into this endless bickering and petty jabs—I'll never quite understand why people communicate this way.
And look, I'm not claiming to be a better or worse parent than anyone else based on what I do or don't do, and my kid isn't superior or inferior to anyone else's just because of how they're performing in school...

Larry Walker24 said:A herbarium? That's literally the only time I ever touched biology in school, mostly because there’s no way I was out scavenging for weeds in the middle of NYC. Like, how could I not?

🤣

Jason Ortiz5 said:Honestly, that sounds like some trendy nonsense that eventually just ends up hitting both the boss and the worker in the face. Creativity without the ability or desire to actually work with others only works in very specific niches. On the flip side, "teamwork orientation" is also just a buzzword. Nobody cares if you're naturally "inclined" toward it—what matters is that you understand what it means to contribute to a team, respect your tasks, and realize how your actions affect everyone else on the squad.

We actually had to let go of an incredible designer a few months back. Being amazing at her craft just wasn't enough. For example, if a project manager tells her a client wants a table with square wooden legs, and she designs this gorgeous, functional table but gives it round metal legs instead, she’s messed up. She stalls the whole project team, we lose credibility with the client, and maybe even the manufacturer says it's impossible within the budget... There are very few industries where one person can just do whatever they want in a vacuum.

Group projects in our school system are supposed to teach kids how to be creative within their own slice of the pie while collaborating so everything fits together. It should be about negotiating, communicating, pitching ideas, and syncing up with what others are thinking. Sadly, group work is anything but that. Most of the time, it's just a massive source of frustration for students. I get that it's tough to supervise multiple groups at once, but they could at least start by giving more concise instructions and explaining what group work actually is, why it exists, what the benefits are, and what happens if you don't participate.

But here in the States, it usually looks like this: split into groups of three, four, or five, pick a topic from a list, and present it this Friday. Good luck with that. It's a decent idea in theory, but totally half-baked and practically meaningless in practice.

I honestly don't get how anyone can envision a functional workplace without actual team players. 😁

Thinking back to those math classes, I remember how we all teamed up to make this massive poster covered in basic equations and taped it right to the classroom wall. I guess it’s funny because the kids who were constantly failing math never once thought to just glance over their shoulders at it during an exam to cheat their way through enough problems to scrape by. 😁

Don't even get me started.
One question on the exam was just the present tense of the verb "to be." That's it. Just write it down. There’s a poster hanging on the classroom wall—it’s been there for, like, fifteen years—and if they mess up the present tense, I practically shine a laser pointer at it just so they can see how it's supposed to look. And yet, they still won't bother to glance over and copy it. The whole point of the question was basically just to have them copy it off the wall. 🤦

rowdypanther12 said:🙏
One of her favorite books was when they used to hold those mock "trials" for the main villain.
The kids had to step into the villain's shoes to explain their actions, while someone else acted as the defense attorney or the judge...

My class recently ran an ALU race🤣

I’m honestly not quite sure how to weigh in on the whole assigned reading situation, but both of my daughters have had the exact same teacher. My oldest is currently in eighth grade, and her English teacher also happens to be a published author. One thing that struck me immediately was that she has never required a dedicated reading journal, not even back when my eldest was in first grade.
At first, I found it absolutely refreshing. Then I realized the strategy: she holds an introductory session followed by a quick assessment, which allows her to gauge exactly who read the material and how much they actually understood. It felt like a breath of fresh air for me personally, because when I look back at how we were forced to write endless essays for every single book we read... well, it makes me feel a bit sorry for them.
In the higher grades, they sometimes tackle group projects based on the books, though they usually handle those during class hours.
My younger daughter recently finished a book called *Emmett and the Detectives*. Her assignment was to find some interesting facts about Germany and research some famous literary and cinematic detectives. We ended up sitting down together to Google things, and I got to tell her all about the history of detective work. It was a lovely way to bond.
I am also quite fond of this idea of creating a picture book—drawing, coloring, and binding it yourself. It is such a clever alternative to being forced to write down the setting, the time period, character descriptions, and a full plot summary. Good grief, what a relief... 🤦

Quentin Tarantino

Susan James said:What exactly is this?
I was thinking about grabbing a bite to eat, but I have a feeling there might not be anything in the kitchen right now. 🤣

I wonder if he’s finally found his footing now that he’s turned his required reading list into a "pizza menu." Did that actually help him wrap his head around the material, or was it just a fun way to pass the time?

hiddendriver34 said:Is that really supposed to be the only goal here?

I read somewhere recently that the skill sets being hunted for in the global business world have flipped completely upside down over the last decade. Apparently, "teamwork" has tanked in importance, and now creativity is sitting right at the top of the most desirable traits list. These days, companies want creative individuals; being a "team player" is practically old news.

If school is meant to prepare kids for life and the actual job market, shouldn't it be encouraging them to develop the very skill that's considered most vital right now? Do you think creative assignments should be limited to art class? Because right now, you don't see them anywhere in high school.

I constantly see parents getting all worked up whenever anyone mentions "creative tasks."

By the way, I have no clue what a "pizza assignment" is either. But honestly? It sounds pretty cool. 😁

So, I was thinking about what the whole point of school reading assignments actually is. We’ve all been there—sitting in a classroom, staring at a thick novel, wondering why we’re being forced to trek through hundreds of pages of text just because it's on a syllabus. Is it just about checking a box to pass a class? Or is there something deeper to it? Personally, I’ve always felt that those assigned books serve as a way to introduce us to perspectives we might never stumble upon on our own. It's like a guided tour through someone else's brain. Even if I wasn't exactly thrilled about the book at the time, looking back, I can usually find one specific idea or character that really stuck with me. I remember back in high school, I had to read this massive classic that I thought was going to be a total snooze fest. But halfway through, I found myself genuinely rooting for the protagonist. It changed how I thought about empathy, and honestly, that stayed with me much longer than any test grade did. What do you guys think? Is assigned reading a necessary tool for building a well-rounded mind, or is it just an outdated way to test our endurance?
A mom reached out to me recently with a bit of a dilemma. She’s struggling with how to help her kid tackle their required reading assignments, especially since the student is having a really hard time staying motivated. We're talking about trying to get through a book that's around 100 pages long, and the lack of interest is making it tough for them to actually grasp what's happening in the story. It’s one of those situations I see quite often—where the sheer task of sitting down and focusing feels overwhelming for a kid.

Quentin Tarantino

goldeneagle36 said:So I guess we just wandered straight into a classroom full of parents who think they’re basically geniuses 🤷

That whole bit about the "study sessions" cracked me up—there was this one dad telling us how he spent all night drilling his kid just so she'd get an A, only for her to end up with a B-. Honestly, we all just absolutely roasted him for that one 🤣

I’m mostly just hovering over my kid’s shoulder, checking everything he actually read and what he’s planning to write down, because after he finished that first hundred-page book last year, the poor kid was just completely lost in space 😁 I know for a fact that when we were tackling that math assignment involving pizza slices last year, it actually helped him figure out how to divide things into equal parts 😁

From what I can gather, between our teacher's input and the exam being scheduled for the same day they have to turn in their reading assignments—plus that introductory period Sarah Hall53 mentioned—it sounds pretty busy.

Maybe I totally misread the situation—that hundred-page reading assignment wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but oh well!

I’ve been wondering lately—specifically regarding elementary school kids—do you think these kinds of creative activities actually encourage them to read more? I'm curious if giving them more hands-on, creative assignments helps them grasp the books they're reading on a deeper level.
What’s the actual point of reading assigned books for school? I was thinking about this the other day while sipping my coffee, wondering if we ever really stop to ask why we're being handed these specific novels. Is it just about checking a box, or is there something more to it?
I've been wondering about that myself lately—why is it actually there in the school at all? It feels like one of those things we just accept without really questioning the logic behind it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much parents tend to hover over their kids' homework lately, and honestly, I think getting too involved can actually do more harm than good on several different levels. I remember back when I was in middle school, my mom used to sit right next to me while I tackled my math problems. She had this habit of pointing out every little mistake before I could even finish the equation. At the time, I thought she was just being helpful, but looking back, it really killed my confidence. Instead of learning how to work through a tough problem, I just learned how to wait for her to give me the answer. When parents step in too heavily, they often accidentally strip away a child's chance to build independence and critical thinking skills. It’s all about finding that sweet spot—being there for support when things get genuinely overwhelming, but letting them struggle just enough to learn how to solve it themselves. Overstepping might get a better grade on a Tuesday night, but it doesn't prepare them for the real world.
You know I’m generally pretty against this kind of thing. Honestly, I feel like it might even be working against my kid right now, but I really believe there will be some long-term benefits down the road.

I don't really see the harm in a mom just sketching out a circle and cutting it out perfectly if her kid has already done everything else. Honestly, sometimes things just happen—maybe the kid or the parent didn't realize how much precision was actually required for this specific project, or maybe they were just racing against the clock and running out of time. It’s not the end of the world!
If a mother has to spend her own time reading the required book, summarizing it for her child, and then sitting there explaining all the parts the kid didn't quite grasp, that points to a massive failure in the education system. For a teacher to actually realize a student is struggling with reading comprehension or just lacks motivation for the assignment, the child needs to show up to class having actually done the work—not just showing up with a half-baked version because Mom had to do the heavy lifting.

I’m honestly not much of a fan when it comes to those DIY creative projects, especially when it involves things like remote nursing work.
Honestly, I think schools should just let kids do whatever they want. If they want to draw all day, dance around, act out plays, or even try their hand at writing novels inspired by picture books—go for it! As long as they’re doing it within the school setting, it's all good. This is especially true for those after-school programs; that’s the perfect time to let their creativity run wild.
During those first two grades, I think it's a great idea to let kids read their required books during after-school care. It would be such a relief if they could finish up their reading there, so when they finally walk through the front door, they don't have to worry about schoolwork for the remaining 15 hours of the day. That way, they can just focus on playing freely until it's time for bed.

Susan James said:Quentin Tarantino

So, I was thinking about what the whole point of school reading assignments actually is. We’ve all been there—sitting in a classroom, staring at a thick novel, wondering why we’re being forced to trek through hundreds of pages of text just because it's on a syllabus. Is it just about checking a box to pass a class? Or is there something deeper to it? Personally, I’ve always felt that those assigned books serve as a way to introduce us to perspectives we might never stumble upon on our own. It's like a guided tour through someone else's brain. Even if I wasn't exactly thrilled about the book at the time, looking back, I can usually find one specific idea or character that really stuck with me. I remember back in high school, I had to read this massive classic that I thought was going to be a total snooze fest. But halfway through, I found myself genuinely rooting for the protagonist. It changed how I thought about empathy, and honestly, that stayed with me much longer than any test grade did. What do you guys think? Is assigned reading a necessary tool for building a well-rounded mind, or is it just an outdated way to test our endurance?
A mom reached out to me recently with a bit of a dilemma. She’s struggling with how to help her kid tackle their required reading assignments, especially since the student is having a really hard time staying motivated. We're talking about trying to get through a book that's around 100 pages long, and the lack of interest is making it tough for them to actually grasp what's happening in the story. It’s one of those situations I see quite often—where the sheer task of sitting down and focusing feels overwhelming for a kid.

Quentin Tarantino

Maybe I totally misread the situation—that hundred-page reading assignment wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but oh well!

I’ve been wondering lately—specifically regarding elementary school kids—do you think these kinds of creative activities actually encourage them to read more? I'm curious if giving them more hands-on, creative assignments helps them grasp the books they're reading on a deeper level.
What’s the actual point of reading assigned books for school? I was thinking about this the other day while sipping my coffee, wondering if we ever really stop to ask why we're being handed these specific novels. Is it just about checking a box, or is there something more to it?
I've been wondering about that myself lately—why is it actually there in the school at all? It feels like one of those things we just accept without really questioning the logic behind it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much parents tend to hover over their kids' homework lately, and honestly, I think getting too involved can actually do more harm than good on several different levels. I remember back when I was in middle school, my mom used to sit right next to me while I tackled my math problems. She had this habit of pointing out every little mistake before I could even finish the equation. At the time, I thought she was just being helpful, but looking back, it really killed my confidence. Instead of learning how to work through a tough problem, I just learned how to wait for her to give me the answer. When parents step in too heavily, they often accidentally strip away a child's chance to build independence and critical thinking skills. It’s all about finding that sweet spot—being there for support when things get genuinely overwhelming, but letting them struggle just enough to learn how to solve it themselves. Overstepping might get a better grade on a Tuesday night, but it doesn't prepare them for the real world.
You know I’m generally pretty against this kind of thing. Honestly, I feel like it might even be working against my kid right now, but I really believe there will be some long-term benefits down the road.

I don't really see the harm in a mom just sketching out a circle and cutting it out perfectly if her kid has already done everything else. Honestly, sometimes things just happen—maybe the kid or the parent didn't realize how much precision was actually required for this specific project, or maybe they were just racing against the clock and running out of time. It’s not the end of the world!
If a mother has to spend her own time reading the required book, summarizing it for her child, and then sitting there explaining all the parts the kid didn't quite grasp, that points to a massive failure in the education system. For a teacher to actually realize a student is struggling with reading comprehension or just lacks motivation for the assignment, the child needs to show up to class having actually done the work—not just showing up with a half-baked version because Mom had to do the heavy lifting.

I’m honestly not much of a fan when it comes to those DIY creative projects, especially when it involves things like remote nursing work.
Honestly, I think schools should just let kids do whatever they want. If they want to draw all day, dance around, act out plays, or even try their hand at writing novels inspired by picture books—go for it! As long as they’re doing it within the school setting, it's all good. This is especially true for those after-school programs; that’s the perfect time to let their creativity run wild.
During those first two grades, I think it's a great idea to let kids read their required books during after-school care. It would be such a relief if they could finish up their reading there, so when they finally walk through the front door, they don't have to worry about schoolwork for the remaining 15 hours of the day. That way, they can just focus on playing freely until it's time for bed.

How wonderful that would be.

But obviously, the American school system doesn't work that way. Beyond the mountain of material and homework they churn through both in class and during after-school programs (I’m not talking daily, but occasionally a parent asks what they did, and my kid can show me everything in ten minutes), they are also constantly assigned long-term projects that aren't due tomorrow, but much later.

Furthermore, the teacher mentioned at the PTA meeting that children are still expected to read before bed—after spending 8 to 10 hours at school—and that we should constantly quiz them on math, just casually, while driving or walking.
We don't do that because sometimes we actually want to relax. It is absolutely unbelievable to me that the fundamentals for first and second grade cannot be mastered within regular school hours and after-school care.

Speaking of required reading, the younger ones in second grade have this Bookmeter thing they sometimes fill out at school, though sometimes they don't have time and have to bring it home.
These are various assignments used to sneak in reading requirements, but some questions are incredibly ambiguous or clearly written for one specific edition (and we all know fairy tales aren't identical in every book), yet the teacher insists on only accepting the answer the publisher clearly intended...

Quentin Tarantino

Jacob Lopez2 said:How wonderful that would be.

But obviously, the American school system doesn't work that way. Beyond the mountain of material and homework they churn through both in class and during after-school programs (I’m not talking daily, but occasionally a parent asks what they did, and my kid can show me everything in ten minutes), they are also constantly assigned long-term projects that aren't due tomorrow, but much later.

Furthermore, the teacher mentioned at the PTA meeting that children are still expected to read before bed—after spending 8 to 10 hours at school—and that we should constantly quiz them on math, just casually, while driving or walking.
We don't do that because sometimes we actually want to relax. It is absolutely unbelievable to me that the fundamentals for first and second grade cannot be mastered within regular school hours and after-school care.

Speaking of required reading, the younger ones in second grade have this Bookmeter thing they sometimes fill out at school, though sometimes they don't have time and have to bring it home.
These are various assignments used to sneak in reading requirements, but some questions are incredibly ambiguous or clearly written for one specific edition (and we all know fairy tales aren't identical in every book), yet the teacher insists on only accepting the answer the publisher clearly intended...

I don't see any issue with reading right before bed. In fact, I find it helps me wind down.
We all have this little habit at home, and honestly, I love that we’re keeping it alive. Even when we travel and end up with a TV in our hotel room—something we definitely don't have back at my place—it still feels like part of our routine.

The real issue is that these homework assignments are things we should honestly be tackling in class rather than being sent home. It feels like they really need that face-to-face guidance to actually get through them properly.
It’s honestly a real struggle when schoolwork starts eating up all the time that should be spent on just playing around and being creative.
Creative types—the ones everyone says are "in high demand" on the job market right now. 🙄There will definitely be those who had the luxury of just sitting back, taking their time, and playing whenever they felt like it.

I run into this massive hurdle whenever I try to get through any recreational reading: if you don't manage to finish a book during the school year, it feels almost impossible. Between the mountain of required textbooks, endless essays, and those heavy creative projects teachers pile on, there’s just never enough time left over. I actually stumbled upon some thoughts about this on Bookmeter. In this thread...

I honestly think it’s better to squeeze in an extra book whenever you can, even alongside your required school reading. If you just stick to the assigned curriculum, you end up spending all your free time running errands—you know, heading down to Target, prepping ingredients, making pizza, working on some art project, or just tackling chores. By the time you're done with all that, your brain is fried. I’d much rather lose myself in a new story during those quiet moments. It’s such a great way to expand your vocabulary and really fire up your imagination; books just have this way of opening up your mind in a way that daily tasks never will.

People always say that letting students get creative with their reading assignments is the best way to actually make them fall in love with books and get them reading more often. I honestly think there's some truth to that! 😬

Of course a kid would rather head over to Teddy's than sit down with a book. 😂
Required reading usually takes about a month per book. Most kids I know—including my own—try to map out a daily page count so they can pace themselves. If they rush through it all at once, they forget the details; if they procrastinate, they end up scrambling at the last minute.
That’s why they never seem to have any downtime left for reading anything else.
In our local school district, students only get one elective book choice per year. Personally, I think it would be much better if we had one per semester. 🙏

rowdypanther12 said:Of course a kid would rather head over to Teddy's than sit down with a book. 😂
Required reading usually takes about a month per book. Most kids I know—including my own—try to map out a daily page count so they can pace themselves. If they rush through it all at once, they forget the details; if they procrastinate, they end up scrambling at the last minute.
That’s why they never seem to have any downtime left for reading anything else.
In our local school district, students only get one elective book choice per year. Personally, I think it would be much better if we had one per semester. 🙏

Yeah, everyone deals with that.

Susan James said:Quentin Tarantino

I don't see any issue with reading right before bed. In fact, I find it helps me wind down.
We all have this little habit at home, and honestly, I love that we’re keeping it alive. Even when we travel and end up with a TV in our hotel room—something we definitely don't have back at my place—it still feels like part of our routine.

The real issue is that these homework assignments are things we should honestly be tackling in class rather than being sent home. It feels like they really need that face-to-face guidance to actually get through them properly.
It’s honestly a real struggle when schoolwork starts eating up all the time that should be spent on just playing around and being creative.
Creative types—the ones everyone says are "in high demand" on the job market right now. 🙄There will definitely be those who had the luxury of just sitting back, taking their time, and playing whenever they felt like it.

I run into this massive hurdle whenever I try to get through any recreational reading: if you don't manage to finish a book during the school year, it feels almost impossible. Between the mountain of required textbooks, endless essays, and those heavy creative projects teachers pile on, there’s just never enough time left over. I actually stumbled upon some thoughts about this on Bookmeter. In this thread...

I honestly think it’s better to squeeze in an extra book whenever you can, even alongside your required school reading. If you just stick to the assigned curriculum, you end up spending all your free time running errands—you know, heading down to Target, prepping ingredients, making pizza, working on some art project, or just tackling chores. By the time you're done with all that, your brain is fried. I’d much rather lose myself in a new story during those quiet moments. It’s such a great way to expand your vocabulary and really fire up your imagination; books just have this way of opening up your mind in a way that daily tasks never will.

People always say that letting students get creative with their reading assignments is the best way to actually make them fall in love with books and get them reading more often. I honestly think there's some truth to that! 😬

Exactly.

The real headache is that the teacher seems to think kids shouldn't read anything unless it's for pure academic purposes—like everything has to be about schoolwork.

I remember staying up until 1 or 2 in the morning just lost in a book. But back then, I was reading stuff I actually *wanted* to read—things that sparked my imagination and made me happy. Not stuff I was forced to finish for a grade. Kids need that downtime away from school too, you know?

The thing is, about 90% of students aren't actually going to use their extra free time to pick up a book they actually enjoy—they’re just going to be glued to a PlayStation or scrolling endlessly through TikTok instead.
Maybe one or two kids per class might read just for the fun of it, and yeah, they'll tackle the required reading too, but for everyone else? That assigned reading is basically the only thing they'll touch all year long. So, honestly, it just makes sense to cut down on the workload. ☕

Most kids today don't touch a book unless it's assigned for school. Honestly, even then, half of them aren't actually reading—they're just finding clever ways to bluff their way through the assignment to trick the teacher.

There is this tiny, microscopic minority of readers who actually go above and beyond. They'll devour extra books on top of that one monthly assignment, much like what rowdypanther12 mentioned.

It would be a total game-changer if students could knock out those required readings during after-school programs. You might want to suggest that to their teachers.

Last year, I took my students out to the school courtyard for an hour. They just spread out on the benches and the floor, totally relaxed, and powered through their reading right then and there. To be fair, it was a quick read that only took about thirty minutes. If we had just two extra hours a week like that, they could easily dive into full-length novels.

Sarah Hall53 said:The thing is, about 90% of students aren't actually going to use their extra free time to pick up a book they actually enjoy—they’re just going to be glued to a PlayStation or scrolling endlessly through TikTok instead.
Maybe one or two kids per class might read just for the fun of it, and yeah, they'll tackle the required reading too, but for everyone else? That assigned reading is basically the only thing they'll touch all year long. So, honestly, it just makes sense to cut down on the workload. ☕

So, what, should we let them do their book reports in the form of a pizza?
😕
Or piles of other "creative" posters and presentations and stuff like that?
I'll ask again, even though you already answered me last time.

Susan James said:Quentin Tarantino

So, I was thinking about what the whole point of school reading assignments actually is. We’ve all been there—sitting in a classroom, staring at a thick novel, wondering why we’re being forced to trek through hundreds of pages of text just because it's on a syllabus. Is it just about checking a box to pass a class? Or is there something deeper to it? Personally, I’ve always felt that those assigned books serve as a way to introduce us to perspectives we might never stumble upon on our own. It's like a guided tour through someone else's brain. Even if I wasn't exactly thrilled about the book at the time, looking back, I can usually find one specific idea or character that really stuck with me. I remember back in high school, I had to read this massive classic that I thought was going to be a total snooze fest. But halfway through, I found myself genuinely rooting for the protagonist. It changed how I thought about empathy, and honestly, that stayed with me much longer than any test grade did. What do you guys think? Is assigned reading a necessary tool for building a well-rounded mind, or is it just an outdated way to test our endurance?
A mom reached out to me recently with a bit of a dilemma. She’s struggling with how to help her kid tackle their required reading assignments, especially since the student is having a really hard time staying motivated. We're talking about trying to get through a book that's around 100 pages long, and the lack of interest is making it tough for them to actually grasp what's happening in the story. It’s one of those situations I see quite often—where the sheer task of sitting down and focusing feels overwhelming for a kid.

Quentin Tarantino

Maybe I totally misread the situation—that hundred-page reading assignment wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but oh well!

I’ve been wondering lately—specifically regarding elementary school kids—do you think these kinds of creative activities actually encourage them to read more? I'm curious if giving them more hands-on, creative assignments helps them grasp the books they're reading on a deeper level.
What’s the actual point of reading assigned books for school? I was thinking about this the other day while sipping my coffee, wondering if we ever really stop to ask why we're being handed these specific novels. Is it just about checking a box, or is there something more to it?
I've been wondering about that myself lately—why is it actually there in the school at all? It feels like one of those things we just accept without really questioning the logic behind it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much parents tend to hover over their kids' homework lately, and honestly, I think getting too involved can actually do more harm than good on several different levels. I remember back when I was in middle school, my mom used to sit right next to me while I tackled my math problems. She had this habit of pointing out every little mistake before I could even finish the equation. At the time, I thought she was just being helpful, but looking back, it really killed my confidence. Instead of learning how to work through a tough problem, I just learned how to wait for her to give me the answer. When parents step in too heavily, they often accidentally strip away a child's chance to build independence and critical thinking skills. It’s all about finding that sweet spot—being there for support when things get genuinely overwhelming, but letting them struggle just enough to learn how to solve it themselves. Overstepping might get a better grade on a Tuesday night, but it doesn't prepare them for the real world.
You know I’m generally pretty against this kind of thing. Honestly, I feel like it might even be working against my kid right now, but I really believe there will be some long-term benefits down the road.

I don't really see the harm in a mom just sketching out a circle and cutting it out perfectly if her kid has already done everything else. Honestly, sometimes things just happen—maybe the kid or the parent didn't realize how much precision was actually required for this specific project, or maybe they were just racing against the clock and running out of time. It’s not the end of the world!
If a mother has to spend her own time reading the required book, summarizing it for her child, and then sitting there explaining all the parts the kid didn't quite grasp, that points to a massive failure in the education system. For a teacher to actually realize a student is struggling with reading comprehension or just lacks motivation for the assignment, the child needs to show up to class having actually done the work—not just showing up with a half-baked version because Mom had to do the heavy lifting.

I’m honestly not much of a fan when it comes to those DIY creative projects, especially when it involves things like remote nursing work.
Honestly, I think schools should just let kids do whatever they want. If they want to draw all day, dance around, act out plays, or even try their hand at writing novels inspired by picture books—go for it! As long as they’re doing it within the school setting, it's all good. This is especially true for those after-school programs; that’s the perfect time to let their creativity run wild.
During those first two grades, I think it's a great idea to let kids read their required books during after-school care. It would be such a relief if they could finish up their reading there, so when they finally walk through the front door, they don't have to worry about schoolwork for the remaining 15 hours of the day. That way, they can just focus on playing freely until it's time for bed.