I have had access to AR for probably 10 years, but I refused to use it because I found it extremely limiting. The software the schools had was several years behind the newest books. It was frustrating to have the kids bring me a brand new book and I would have to say there was no test for it. BUT at my new school we are switching over to the internet version this year with its thousands of books and quizzes. I will not use the quizzes for my grading, but the school itself will have prizes. If they want to compete for those prizes, fine, but I will not push it. I will still expect responses for the books they read, regardless of whether they pass the quiz, since the quiz is level one question (right in the text). Unfortunately, at my level (7th) the kids can't use the book for the quiz. Their time is part of the score. Kim
On 9/1/07, Laura Cannon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have used AR for about 14 years and I would definitely agree with Bill, > Laura and Cheryle. I have a student teacher at the present time that used > AR in fourth grade and she loved it. It is an excellent supplement to a > reading program, holds kids accountable at the base level of comprehension > and is motivating even without rewards. Although, I think rewards can > have > a place, especially when working with low level readers and or > economically > underprivileged students who love little trinkets and don't read well > enough > yet for reading to be its own reward. Something a little extra helps that > motivation. I set goals every three weeks and set them low enough that > students can easily meet them and have time to read other books, or they > can > write a short report or some other type of activity for a non AR book to > make it count, or I write a test for the book. There is also a way to get > tests from the website-I think it is rather expensive-but then every book > AR > has a test for is available. Our school may do that next year. I do take > grades from tests. We are required to take grades on a regular basis from > grade level TAKS type assessments and below level students can score very > low on these, especially at the beginning of the year. AR reading is done > on their reading level so AR grades pull up their average. I meet > individually with my students to set goals and discuss whether they have > been met at the end of three weeks. It is a great individual conference > with my students about their progress and interests in reading. We don't > just set goals on points or number of books we set individual goals-like > let's try a chapter book next time or two nonfiction books. > > Laura Cannon > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > -- Kim ------- Kimberlee Hannan Department Chair Sequoia Middle School Fresno, California 93702 The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~Author Unknown [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
