Reading Apprenticeship at TCC: Reading/Evidence Logs

Using metacognitive Reading Logs is one one to help students make their own thinking visible. Double-entry logs or journals (also known as dialectical notebooks) can promote critical thinking by keeping track of students' thinking as they read. Reading logs may be double or triple-entry logs and may be specific in function such as the Evidence/Interprentation double-entry logs.

Students take notes as they move through a reading. Besides taking notes on what the author is saying, the students can also take notes on what they think about the reading, including any questions they may have.  Using columns, this organized note-taking separates the author's thoughts from the student's thoughts. 

With repeated use of  Reading Logs, students become aware of their own thinking process and begin to hone their reading skills.  It also becomes a valuable tool for instructors to track a student's progress or check a student's undertanding of specific topics.

These ready-to-use templates were created by RAT Pack Leader and ABE/GED instructor, Michele Lesmeister.