Track Unfamiliar Words in a Reading Log

Skilled readers do not skip over words they do not know — they stop, look at the surrounding sentence for clues, and jot the word down. A reading log is a simple tool that turns every unfamiliar word into a learning opportunity. By keeping a log consistently, you build a personalized vocabulary bank drawn directly from the books you read.

Four columns in your reading log

• Word — write the unfamiliar word exactly as it appears in the text.
• Page — record the page number so you can return to the passage later.
• Context clue type — name the kind of clue the author provides (definition, synonym, antonym, or example).
• Inferred meaning — write what you think the word means based on the context clue.

Four types of context clues

• Definition clue — the author directly explains the word in the same sentence or the next. Example: "The nomads, people who travel from place to place without a fixed home, set up camp near the river."
• Synonym clue (restatement) — a word with a similar meaning appears nearby. Example: "The arid, bone-dry desert stretched for miles."
• Antonym clue (contrast) — an opposite word signals the meaning. Example: "Unlike the fertile valley, the arid plateau supported almost no plant life."
• Example clue — specific examples illustrate the meaning. Example: "Predatory animals, such as lions, wolves, and eagles, hunt other creatures for food."