Activity 1: Baseline Observation Week

Purpose: Build your “noticing muscle” before formal tracking begins

Time Required: One week (5-10 minutes daily)

What You’ll Need:

• Notebook or phone notes app
• Your usual reading time with your child

Instructions:

Before implementing any tracking system, spend one week simply noticing your child’s reading behaviors without recording anything formal or showing your child.

Each day, jot down privately:

• One thing your child did well
• One moment of effort or persistence
• One sign of engagement or enjoyment (even if small)

Don’t:

• Tell your child you’re observing
• Make a formal chart
• Judge or evaluate—just notice

At the end of the week:

1. Review your notes
2. List 5 specific behaviors you noticed (not judgments like “good reader” but actions like “self-corrected three times”)
3. Identify 2-3 behaviors you want to track going forward
4. Notice: Were you surprised by how much growth was already happening?

Reflection Questions:

• What did you notice that you hadn’t paid attention to before?
• Did your child show strengths you’d overlooked?
• How did simply noticing (without judging) change your perspective?

Why This Matters: This activity trains you to see reading holistically, not just “did they finish the page.” You’ll become a better tracker—and a more encouraging reading partner.