Introducing a New Reading Eggs & Reading Eggspress Feature: The Reading Journal! 

In a technology-focused environment, the learn-to-read experience for students and teachers looks much different than it did years ago. At Edmentum, we’re consistently striving to create a digital environment that supports students’ digital reading experiences and celebrates their reading success. 

On September 27, the Reading Eggs program added a new feature for users: the Reading Journal! The Reading Journal in the Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress library engages students and supports the essential practice of reading for pleasure. The Reading Journal brings to life a tried-and-true classroom literacy practice in a digital environment, bridging the gap between a digital reading environment and tangible reading experiences.

What is included in the new Reading Journal feature?

The interactive Reading Journal supports each student’s reading experience by tracking progress and celebrating reading milestones—which promotes the essential practice of reading for pleasure and supports reading proficiency. The new feature includes:

• Progress tracker of books that students have read
   
• Monthly stats (words read, books read) to support ownership and student pride
   
• Student comments and notes on books and star reviews to encourage book talk
   
• Certificates and posters for milestones to celebrate and motivate each student
   
• Fun sticker packs as incentives to continue reading

 With the Reading Journal, students can take pride in the number of days they have read each month and the total number of words read. They can look back at the books they enjoyed and reflect on how their reading skills have developed. The Reading Journal is a real and lasting celebration of every student’s reading journey.

How do I find the Reading Journal?

Students access the Reading Journal via their Reading Eggs or Reading Eggspress dashboard.

How does the Reading Journal work?

Getting the Reading Journal set up is easy! Students begin by choosing a cover design for their Reading Journal. They can also choose a decorative theme for their Reading Journal each month.

At the start of each month, the left side shows monthly reading statistics—the days of the month with reading events and the number of words read. The stack of books on the right updates to give students a visual representation of their completed reading for the month.

The Reading Record lists the books (or chapters) read by students. A book or chapter is considered “read” when the book’s comprehension quiz in the Reading Eggs or Reading Eggspress Library has been completed. If students add a star rating while reading the book, this rating will display in the Reading Journal. Students can also write a comment about each book.

The scrapbook page shows a cover image for each chapter or book read. Once there is at least one cover, students can begin to decorate the page using sticker packs. When students fill a page and turn to the next one, the decorated page is set as “fixed.” Students can review fixed pages but cannot change them.

How does the Reading Journal support reading for pleasure?

The Reading Journal includes additional features to support teachers and learners and encourages reading for pleasure, including:

1. Milestones

The Reading Journal celebrates reading milestones and rewards students for the number of days that they’ve been readers, either by reading a chapter or a complete book. When students reach a milestone, they will receive a virtual sticker pack, a certificate, and a motivational reading poster. Students reach milestones when they read for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 days.

2. Offline Reading

The Reading Journal celebrates all reading—both online and offline. Coming soon, each Reading Record page will have an option for students to record what that they have read offline. This is an optional feature that students can close.

3. Teacher Support for Reading Choices

Teachers can use the Reading Eggs or Reading Eggspress teacher Library to support students with their book choices. Teachers can share collections of books that match students’ reading levels and interests. Shared collections appear in students’ Reading Eggs or Reading Eggspress Library, bundled as “Your Books.”

It’s now even easier to make reading fun with Reading Eggs! The Reading Journal feature is available now in all Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress dashboards. How will you use the Reading Eggspress Reading Journal this school year? Let us know on social media by tagging @edmentum!

Looking for more resources to help your students develop a love of literacy? Take a look at this post to learn more about how you can help your student’s sharpen their abilities around reading for skill vs. reading for pleasure.