Re: Checkout for Reading Levels

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

Dan,
At our school AR books are the most widely circulated because the kids want
the points, but they still like reading - make that LOVE reading.  They are
having fun.  The more a student reads, they better readers they become and
thus the more they like it and so it goes. Students like the tests, they
like the computers, they like the points - but they also love the books! .
We who were natural lovers of reading cannot relate to the need for
motivation.  We book lovers have always wondered how we could get students
to love books they way we have. We have tried incentives, etc.  Why blast
something that works. They are not really limited because we have a huge
selection of AR books, and we are getting more all the time.  They do read
the other books, as well, especially if they are in a series or if they find
they like a particular author. They always want to read any books that have
been "book talked."  It may seem like such a program may hinder reading, but
the biggest naysayers are not those who have tried the program-----Original
Message-----
From: Dan Robinson Indexing Services <drobinson@INFO.HWWILSON.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Date: Friday, December 04, 1998 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: Checkout for Reading Levels


>Michal, I think if you re-read your posting, you'll see that the
>program as implemented is not "making reading fun".  If reading were
>'fun', you would have a huge circulation of non AR books. It seems to
>me that the students are only reading for the tests. I find it sad
>that the students feel that what is not tested has no value. Of
>course, some may be reading non AR books outside of school, but as a
>devourer of books during my school years, I doubt it. I was borrowed
>to the limit in every library I could go to.  In looking back, I
>can't imagine limiting my reading to only what is tested.
>
>Dan Robinson
>Indexing Services
>H.W. Wilson Company
>Bronx, NY
>drobinson@hwwilson.com
>
>On  3 Dec 98 at 21:28, The Austin's wrote:
>
>> I have read this thread with great interest, mainly I suppose because it
was
>> my comment that sparked this debate. Yes, I do not allow students to
check
>> out AR books that are above/below their READING level. Big difference
>> between reading level and grade level. This was a staff decision
>[snipped]
>
> Since we began AR 3
>> years ago tho', not one fiction book has been checked out, and only a few
>> non-fiction, even when I try to suggest them to the kids. Our students
seem
>> to love taking the tests and trying to top their personal goals.
>[snipped]
>
>. We have strived in our K-6
>> building to make reading fun! And our scores show our success in raising
our
>> reading levels. I feel we are educating our students well, and I still,
>> right or wrong, believe in our policies.
>>
>> Michal Austin
>> Elem. Librarian/K-12 Art
>> Flinthills USD 492
>> Rosalia KS
>> whest177@wheatstate.com
>>
>
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