At my school, reading with parents absolutely counts. For some children, that's their favorite aspect of the reading time - time with their parents! It motivates the children to take the time, makes it pleasurable, helps them see parents as readers, gives them opportunity to discuss their reading and ask questions, and it gives parents an opportunity monitor their child's progress and feel empowered to do something to be involved in their child's education. In the perfect world, reading with parents AND reading alone would both happen, but this isn't the reality. This policy would just ensure that fewer of our students completed any at-home reading.

In a time when we can't do enough to get parents involved, it's hard to imagine that a school wouldn't see the benefits of including the time a student reads with the adult at home. Reading is making meaning from words. Isn't a child still doing that as they listen to someone else reading?

At my children's school, reading with parents counts on the log and is very much encouraged.

Joanne,
I am a retired teacher and grandmother of two boys. When my daughter works as a nurse, I am in charge of taking care of my grandsons. Since the older one is in first grade, this includes helping with homework. Yes, I definitely feel that reading with him should count. We also draw pictures together and write sentences about the pictures. We take turns writing the sentences. He does not like to do homework, so it is a bit of a challenge. I am glad that you made a comment on my blog so I could find yours. I do use a lot of the tips I find on Reading Rockets when working with my grandsons.
Thanks again, Betty