Homeschool High School Reading List Record Form

We are inching closer and closer to the start of homeschool high school! I have already shared my Course Record Form and my Volunteer Log with you. Today I have another record keeping tool for you–a high school book log.

This is a simple concept: your student reads a book, then he or she records it on the form. All you need to track is the book title and author. When your student graduates, you will have record of his homeschool high school reading list.

Why Should Your Homeschool High School Student Keep a Book Log?

While I don’t think a recorded reading list is do-or-die, I do think there are good reasons to keep one. The first time I heard about keeping track of all the books a student reads in high school, I was sitting in a seminar at a homeschool convention.

Since I have a reader, I determined it would be a great idea to log what he reads; I could add his reading list to his transcript and potential colleges would see one of his strengths.

After the seminar I attended, the idea of a reading list came up in a conversation with a friend who has graduated four students from her homeschool. She mentioned that one of her daughters went to a university which required a copy of her daughter’s reading list.

I have also heard Lee Binz (homeschool high school guru) encourage moms to track the books a student reads throughout high school and to compile them into a reading list to submit with the transcript.

What Should My Student Read?

Your student will likely read a variety of books, authors, and genres throughout the homeschool high school experience. Anything read for a class or for pleasure can be added to the high school book log.

Reading a variety of books will help high school students understand different viewpoints, analyze the messages embedded in the texts, and learn how to think critically.

As your student reads an assortment of books, he will reap the benefits–including improving vocabulary, enhancing critical thinking skills and bridging cultural gaps.

What Books Should Be Included on a High School Book Log?

You should include these types of books on the homeschool high school book log:

classics
popular literature
books read for classes
books read for fun
books your student read independently
books you read aloud to your student
audiobooks

Basically, you include everything!

It’s important to log everything because the reading list indicates various things about your student. It demonstrates reading level, shows the types of books your student enjoys, indicates unique interests, establishes the rigor of your curriculum, and it may even highlight your student’s passions and gifts.

The record keeping part of the reading list can be done by your student. I put the form on Elijah’s desktop, so he can simply open it and add books as he finished them. Just like the other two record keeping forms I created, he can type right on the form.