Re: Checkout for Reading Levels

["KImberly C. Thames" <tedkim@MINDSPRING.COM>]

We have the AR program at our school and students are encouraged to read in
a zone around their reading level and we have lots of AR tests, however, let
me comment about being hard and fast about these levels.  Teachers and media
specialists must reserve the right to individual judgement and students
should get approval for any book they read.  I say this for these reasons -
sometimes books supposedly on level are not appropriate for the age child.
For instance Gone With The Wind is 6th grade reading level!  Students in the
fourth grade may qualify for Steven King or John Grishan and the like - just
not appropriate for 9 year olds, ya think? Also, The Giver is a wonderful
book, but even some of my gifted third and fourth graders cannot grasp the
concepts - it is developmentally difficult for them to understand a "what
if" worl, but it is a fourth grade level read.  Another reason for
flexibility is that the student should not miss out on some wonderful
children's lit because their reading level has improved dramatically. For
instance - Sarah Plain and Tall, Bridge to Terabithia, Charlotte's Web,
Number the Stars - and many more might be third grade reading, but the
shoudn't everyone read them?  Our program has partially solved this by
requiring a some but not all 1 point books for the first level, some 2 point
books for the third level certificate,  etc.  That way if they read some
Frog and Toad they still have to read something higher. They also have to
have an 85 % reading comprehension and have an average in their zone for any
prizes. There is no prize for the top point getter -just for those reaching
certain levels.  Another important factor is that AR is completely
voluntary.  It is not the reading program.  Freedom of choice is a
tremendoudly important factor in developing the love of reading and better
readers (these go hand in hand.)  We have almost %100 participation and our
circulation has quadrupled.  If AR becomes a burden it will backfire.
Kimberly Thames
Lower School Media Specialist
Greater Atlanta Christian School
tedkim@mindspring.com

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