Re: [LM_NET] AR as a Tool

[Johanna Halbeisen <JH@NEWSONGLIBRARY.ORG>]

Susan - I agree that AR should be used as a diagnostic tool.  I 
disagree that AR intends it solely to be a diagnostic tool.  Their 
home page makes it to be a program that inspires reading excitement. 
This is a program to get kids to love reading.  By doing what? 
Taking quizzes on the books they read.  There are rewards for 
children who earn a certain number of points.  Goals are set and 
students are required to read books with a given reading level. 
Special certificates for reaching a goal of so many points.  You 
don't need 100,000 quizzes for a diagnostic tool.
Johanna

Johanna Halbeisen, Library Media Teacher
Woodland Elementary School (K-4)
80 Powder Mill Rd, Southwick, MA 01077
JH@newsonglibrary.org


>Sad...
>I am no fan of AR either but I must say to all that it is not the program
>that is at fault here. It is the misuse of that program as a be-all-end-all
>reading program which AR never intended to be. AR is intended to be a
>diagnostic tool to assist in the proper function of an overall reading
>program. It was never intended to be THE reading program. However, as long
>as it is abused by educators who don't want to put in the necessary hours
>for proper reading instruction, AR will continue to be villified. Just my
>.02.
>
>
>On 10/8/07, Marsha Redd <marsharedd@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>  Very well stated. I am no fan of AR. Aside from the cost, it is too time
>>  consuming and limiting. Do we want to teach kids to enjoy reading, or do
>>  we
>>  want to teach them that reading is only cool when you get points for it?
>>  Here is a story that sums it all up: A graduate professor that I had told
>>  us
>>  that she bought her niece a book for Christmas. When the girl learned that
>>  it was not an AR book, she threw it to the floor in disgust. That tells me
>>  that for that child, AR did more harm than good.
>  >
>>
>  >

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