Accelerated Reader Program - Thoughts?

[mich311e]

I would think the same thing. They are 4 weeks in and he's already met his AR goal for the quarter. Of course, the librarian probably doesn't know that he's met his goal. :)

 

I'll bring that up when I attend literacy night.

[barbarajon]

I find this program to be not so much beneficial to my son. While it does help build up interest in reading books, but the purpose of reading ends up to be only mugging for quiz. The motive of reading any book should be to absorb knowledge and clarify ones doubt and give information to ones curiosity.

[Word Nerd]

The motive of reading any book should be to absorb knowledge and clarify ones doubt and give information to ones curiosity.

 

As an avid reader myself, I disagree. Many times, my motive for reading is simply entertainment, and there's nothing wrong with that. I think the same is true of reading for kids. Teaching comprehension and doing literature studies are important, of course, but reading does not always have to have an educational purpose—particularly if we're trying to raise lifelong readers. One of the things that annoys me about the AR program is that it discourages reading for reading's sake.

Edited September 12, 2011 by WordGirl

[Margo out of lurking]

There is something rumbling in my mental belly though. I feel like I just got off a roller coaster.

 

I do not ever post on this board but saw this post today on the Forums page. I work at our county library in the children's dept. I abhor A/R. I can't think of a faster way to strip all enjoyment from reading. As a whole, it may be the best overall large group arrangement for reading. It's not that way for every individual child, however, and it isn't beneficial even in a classroom sized group.

 

:banghead:

 

Don't read anything that interests you, dear. You won't get any points for it.

 

:banghead:

 

 

Yes, there is a scientific calculation to determine grade level. Again, overall it may be the best (as in only) was to judge books as a very large grouping. As librarians (sans the MLS), we find it very arbitrary within individual books.

 

The worst, and most recent, are the 7th grade teachers who direct their students to read "grade level" books. There is little offered on A/R at grade level 7. The teachers have no idea what they are really asking, but it sounds like a great request.

 

:banghead:

 

Still grumbling here, but I hate that little kids are rewarded with pizza parties if they reach their goal.

 

:banghead:

 

I hate that A/R tests on yes/no questions, not questions that require a child to think. A/R style question: What color ribbons did Laura's Ma put in her hair? Thinking question: What did Laura think about the ribbons Ma put in her hair?

 

:banghead:

 

Life is not a race. Education is not a race. Reading is not a race.

[Bang!Zoom!]

I'm a *little* curious about where they are going to place the kid in the AR program.

 

I know that about two weeks ago she did a STAR testing for Accelerated Reader...then she did another one..so two testings on STAR....then on Friday they had a specialist come in and she was taken out of class and did three more tests that she didn't know the names of.

 

Then she sat in the counselors office for a bit, they came in to talk to her but she didn't understand what it was all about.

 

I'm guessing she will probably bring home some sort of paper on that this week..they are probably stumped on what her level is for fluency or placement.

 

I'm actually very surprised that any of this took place at all. I figured that because they have no accommodations for g/t learning in that school she was just going to go out with the common tide and that was that.

 

Just as a backup, I send her with her own books and extra sheets from home to work out. She tells me there is time during the day to do them, and she gives the sheets to her teacher after she's done.

 

The papers do not come home, and I haven't heard a peep.

 

So there's a number of scenarios there..

 

It could be that she's pitchin' them in the trash, she's actually handing them in without response..or she's getting response and not telling me...you know, just a bunch of stuff. I have no idea.

 

When I ask her for a general response which matches the question from the sheets, she responds correctly, so I know she's actually doing the material at school. But other than that, I'm clueless.

 

For now, at the library, she's taking out any book she wants, but I think this week it's going to change by the end of the week. There is still no "points" goal assigned to her. I'd imagine that's going to be firmed up by the end of this week as well.

 

Should be interesting to see what that comes out as.