I agree with Laura. AR can be an effective program if used as it was designed - a program to help motivate readers, especially struggling readers, a program to help children get a better understanding of an appropriately leveled book for their unique reading skills.
AR is not perfectly leveled, but any leveling system is an "estimate" of the reading level. Students need to be taught other ways to peruse a book to see if it is a good fit book for their unique talents and interests. AR, in our district, encourages independent reading. They are motivated when setting goals for points earned and book level outcomes. They challenge themselves to push harder. Trainers for this program claim that very few tests can be passed by just watching the movie. As far as the low-level questions, if you want to push your students' literacy skills, the AR program also offers Literacy skills test for some titles. These questions focus more on literacy skills, an understanding of the characters, setting, plot... The program also offers vocabulary tests, including review of words from previous books read, encouraging an awareness words and phrases as they read. AR was never meant to be a reading program. It was developed to motivate independent reading. In our district, it is a positive thing. I hear students discussing and sharing books they are reading as they gather in the halls or at recess. It has been a great motivator for our struggling readings because they are finding more success as they are learning to pick out books that fit them as a reader. They feel good after taking a quiz. They are excited as they see their progress toward their goals from the quiz print outs. This program has worked well in our district. It is not used to replace reading instruction; it is not used as a reading program. It is used to motivate the students to read independently, real books outside of our reading program. It has been a good thing for our district. -- Sue Van Ausdle Title I/LAP Director Pomeroy School District 121 10th St. Pomeroy, WA 99347 509-843-1651 [email protected] "Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." - John W. Whitehead On 12/20/09 5:32 PM, "Laura" <[email protected]> wrote: > That is a poorly run school and misuse of a very useful program when it is > done correctly. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 10:18 AM > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] AR > > >> >> I agree with both of you. The saddest thing of all is that some districts >> use AR as their "reading program'. Don't kids need instruction?? >> Obviously, some think not! When I was a long term sub quite a long time >> ago, AR was in place at the school. The kids weren't even reading the >> books. They were just pretty good guessers or had listened to the book. >> They were accumulating coupons for free pan pizzas like no tomorrow. I was >> so disgusted that I vowed I would never participate in it if I ever got my >> own class and thank god, I never have! >> Sue >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] >> To: [email protected] >> Sent: Sat, Dec 19, 2009 11:27 pm >> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] AR >> >> >> I totally agree with you. We are dropping AR at our school an possibly in >> our entire district for the same reasons. It measures comprehenson by >> using very low level questions. >> Marianne >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: jan sanders <[email protected]> >> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email >> <[email protected]> >> Sent: Fri, Dec 18, 2009 2:35 pm >> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] AR >> >> No, the levels do not correspond. AR creates it's levels by the number of >> words on a page and the number of pages. That is also how they decide the >> number of points. If you make your own test, they give you the "formula" >> to figure out the point value...To me, AR is over rated and DOES NOT >> instill a love of reading for children. They learn that that you read to >> earn an award, instead of the reward being the story on the page. I was a >> rebel at my school and refused to have my students do it. Some parents >> complained, so the computer was there for them to use, but I did not give >> out any awards.To really know your students as readers, have conversations >> and conferences with them. >> Jan >> >> >>> Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:31:46 -0800 >>> From: [email protected] >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: [MOSAIC] AR >>> >>> We may have had this conversation, but I didn't have access to >>> Accelerated Reader. What do you all think? Do the levels correspond with >>> the actual reading level of the student? >>> Thanks for your input. >>> Brenda >>> Ca/4 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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. >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >> > > > _______________________________________________ > 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. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. 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