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Reading Maths

Maths hiding in reading: reading timers

Track minutes read and compare days.

Quick answer

Reading timers help you track how long you read and compare reading times across days. This is a fun way to learn about time, addition, and making comparisons using maths.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:
  • Read and record time using a timer
  • Add up minutes of reading across several days
  • Compare reading times to see who or what read the most
  • Use maths to make a simple chart or table of reading times

Why this matters

Reading timers help you track how much time you spend reading. This is useful for:
  • Learning to tell time on an analogue or digital clock
  • Practising addition and subtraction
  • Understanding how much time is spent on a hobby
  • Setting reading goals and seeing progress
  • Comparing your reading with friends or family
Whether you're reading a story, a book, or even just a comic, timers help you see how long you've been reading. This is a great way to connect reading with maths.

How it works

To use a reading timer:
  1. Set your timer for the time you want to read (like 15 minutes or 30 minutes)
  2. Start reading when the timer begins
  3. When the timer goes off, stop reading
  4. Record how long you read (like 20 minutes)
  5. Repeat for several days
  6. Add up your reading times
  7. Compare your times with others or with your own past times

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you read for 10 minutes on Monday, 15 minutes on Tuesday, and 20 minutes on Wednesday. You can add these times:
  • Monday: 10 minutes
  • Tuesday: 15 minutes
  • Wednesday: 20 minutes
Total reading time = 10 + 15 + 20 = 45 minutes You can also compare how much you read:
  • Wednesday was the longest reading time
  • Monday was the shortest reading time
  • 10 minutes is less than 15 minutes and 20 minutes

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Reading Time Tracker You are a reading detective! Your mission is to track how long you read each day for a week. Each day, you:
  1. Set a timer for 10, 15, or 20 minutes
  2. Read a book, story, or comic
  3. Write down how long you read
  4. At the end of the week, add up your reading time
  5. See if you beat your record from last week
On the first day, you read for 15 minutes. On the second day, you read for 20 minutes. On the third day, you read for 10 minutes. On the fourth day, you read for 25 minutes. On the fifth day, you read for 15 minutes. On the sixth day, you read for 30 minutes. On the seventh day, you read for 20 minutes. How many minutes did you read in total? Let’s add them up:
  1. 15 + 20 = 35
  2. 35 + 10 = 45
  3. 45 + 25 = 70
  4. 70 + 15 = 85
  5. 85 + 30 = 115
  6. 115 + 20 = 135 minutes
You read for 135 minutes in one week! That’s over 2 hours!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to write down the reading time
    Why it happens: You might get excited and forget to write it down.
    Fix: Use a chart or notebook to write down the time after each reading session.
  • Mistake: Adding the wrong numbers
    Why it happens: It's easy to make a mistake when adding.
    Fix: Double-check your addition by adding again or using a calculator.
  • Mistake: Thinking that 60 minutes = 1 hour
    Why it happens: Some children are not sure about time units.
    Fix: Practice counting in 10s or 5s to help understand how minutes add up to hours.
  • Mistake: Not comparing reading times
    Why it happens: You might just record the time without thinking about how it compares.
    Fix: Ask questions like “Which day did you read the most?” or “How much longer did you read on Saturday than Monday?”

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Setting up a simple chart or table to record reading times
  • Encouraging children to write or draw their reading times
  • Using a real timer or phone timer to make it fun
  • Helping children add up times and compare them
  • Asking questions like “Which day did you read the longest?” or “How much more time did you read this week?”
  • Helping children understand how 60 minutes make 1 hour
You can also make it a family activity. Everyone can track their reading time and see who reads the most.

Practice questions

  1. On Monday you read for 10 minutes. On Tuesday you read for 15 minutes. How many minutes did you read in total?
  2. On Wednesday you read for 20 minutes. On Thursday you read for 25 minutes. How many minutes did you read in total?
  3. If you read for 15 minutes each day for 4 days, how many minutes did you read in total?
  4. On Friday you read for 30 minutes. On Saturday you read for 20 minutes. How much longer did you read on Friday than Saturday?
  5. On Sunday you read for 10 minutes. How many minutes is that in total for the whole week if you read 10 minutes every day?
Answers:
  1. 10 + 15 = 25 minutes
  2. 20 + 25 = 45 minutes
  3. 15 + 15 + 15 + 15 = 60 minutes
  4. 30 - 20 = 10 minutes
  5. 10 x 7 = 70 minutes

FAQ

What is a reading timer?

A reading timer is a tool that helps you track how long you spend reading. It can be a real timer, a phone app, or even a simple stopwatch.

Why should I track my reading time?

Tracking your reading time helps you see how much you read and can help you set goals. It also helps you practice telling time and adding up minutes.

How do I add up reading times?

You add up reading times by writing them down and then adding them together. For example, if you read 10 minutes on Monday and 15 minutes on Tuesday, you add 10 + 15 = 25 minutes.

Can I compare my reading times with my friends?

Yes! You can compare how much time you and your friends read. This helps you see who reads the most or who has improved the most.

What if I don’t have a timer?

You can use a phone, a clock, or even a piece of paper with a drawing of a clock to help you track time. You can also just estimate how long you read and write that down.