HIT: AR: Part 2

[kaTe <cag@AZSTARNET.COM>]

    I'm not going to get into a big discussion of the merits of AR
either.  It works at our school and that's all that counts with me. We
have 6-8th graders, about 1150 students. This is about our 5th year, I
think, so we've grown in terms of numbers of teachers involved, number
of titles we own, number of tests we own, etc. It takes a few years to
get teachers enthusiastic, but if you can start off with a couple who
are really gung ho, it will help you a great deal.  You also need the
full backing of the administration for it to be truly successful.
Thankfully, we have that.
    Cheating on an AR test is handled just as cheating on any other test
in this building. The policies are spelled out in the student
handbooks.  The first kid who cheated got a day of in-school suspension,
and we didn't have any more problem.
    We set up our program to require a monitor password in order to take
a test.  We use a formula for the password so it is changed every day
but the teachers can know what it is, since they enter the passwords in
the classroom as often as we do in the library.  Our password formula is
the first three letters of the day of the week, followed by the date.
Today's would be MON7, tomorrow's would be TUE8, etc. Probably any
variation of things would work, as long as it's a formula that the
teachers can figure out. We are very adamant at the pre-school week
faculty meetings, in-service for new teachers, etc. abut the need for
absolute secrecy on the password issue.  I'm extremely firm about it
during the new student orientation, and we've not had but one incident
of anyone really trying to figure it out.  Hope this helps a little.
    By the way, I also have cataloged all the books as AR titles.  If
you have an automated catalog and want to do that, I'll be glad to share
what we did.  We have Winnebago's Spectrum program, but I think most
ideas are applicable to any software cataloging program.
****************************************************************************
If at all possible, I would recommend bring a Reading Renaissance workshop to
your teachers ASAP.  If that is impossible, then I would go myself.  If that,
too, is impossible, then find someone who's been who will help you.

Probably the most important thing to do to discourage cheating is to make all
students accountable by making them log their reading and to make all
teachers who use AR accountable for checking the logs before students test.
It is my opinion that teachers should NOT use AR for books that are part of a
class study in which all or groups of the students read the same novel.  This
will just encourage cheating.

Students passwords shouldn't be a problem, but the common teacher password
may be.  One of my students (unfortunately, the most devious child in school)
got the teacher password from an uncle who's a teacher (bless his soul).  So
you might want to change the given password regularly.

My school isn't networked, but another school that is networked had MAJOR
difficulties because teachers went into the teacher program and changed the
password at will causing all others to be unable to access the teacher
program.  You might want to have some training on what is and isn't
acceptable for individual teachers to personalize!

And, if you've not used AR, you need to know the following:
1.  The system recognizes students by names, not ID nos. or other
information.  If you have students who share the same first and last name,
you need to add a middle initial.
2.  The system recognizes tests by the number, not be the title.  This is
probably only important if teachers begin to enter tests they've written
themselves.

Finally, AR takes on a life of its own once it's begun.  If it is used by the
LA teachers, your circulation should jump.  In addition, you might want to
ask for additional funding just to buy AR books.  I recommend that the
funding come out of the LA department if that department established AR use.
Your budget will most likely not cover the cost of replacement for books that
will be worn out by use or for the books that are on the list that you don't
have and teachers and/or students ask you to buy.
It's a curse and a blessing and I love AR, but life as you now know it will
change!
*****************************************************************************
The reading teachers in our school required so many each marking period to
gain a specific grade.
We also have a language arts reading block where most of their grade in
reading came from the  AR program.
In the regular classes on the teams
36 or better for an A
25 or better for a B
15 or better for a C
These are about what they use.  They must read in their zone.  The ESE
teachers have a different scale as well as the ESOL teachers.
The students get certificates each time they reach another level of reading
and are listed on a main board in the library.
We have seen great success in our reading scores by using AR.
*******************************************************************************
I require a different number of points for each student. The program is
individualized, and points are based on each student's zpd range, and on
individual conferences with each student.

******************************************************************************
I used AR this past year. My students had to keep the Reading Log and
could only take a test if I signed the log that they had completed the
book. Also, for grading purposes, I gave 3 grades each six weeks based on
either number of points earned OR the number of tests passed. I did this
for my Sped kids that would take and pass several tests, but only end up
with 3 or 4 points-at the most. I also gave a Rdg comp grade each based on
the Rdg comp % for the AR tests passed that six weeks. I encouraged by
students to read in their Zone (independent reading level) and I had
readers from 9th grade to preprimer in my 5th grade class. You can tell
the program to give you only results from a certain time period when
requesting the Student Record. I ran one every week so the parents could
see how their student was doing up to that point in a grading period.
*****************************************************************************
I try to speak to students before or after their test as often as possible
to show an interest in their progress.

I suggest that you have the program where you must use the monitor's
password before taking each test.  This is a pain but stops kids from
taking tests under each other's account.

But the most important thing is have your teachers us the LOGS!!
Teachers that use the logs are more aware of what their students are doing.
It would also make cheating much more difficult.

Also,
I can't get some teachers to understand that when I say that the students
must test "on their level" that I mean reading level not Grade Level!!

****************************************************************************
I started the AR program many years ago in K-6 school.  It was a few years
before cheating started but we dealing with kids, it happens.  I have
suggested to teachers that they look at every test printed out for the name
match between the student taking the test and the name on the test paper.
If cheating happens, we have erased all points of students involved for that
school year.  There is also a Computer Usage Rule in our school which would
keep those students from using the computer for any purpose for a period of
time even if they have assignments which require computer use.  I would
recommend making students aware up front what will happen to cheaters.
*****************************************************************************
A couple of things I would do differently -

I would not color code my books. Instead I would put the reading level
on a small plain white label on the back cover of the books. You
eliminate labeling the shelves by color, and making the little color
guides. And there are students who will stay with the lowest level they
can - never coming in contact with the higher level books.

I would not arrange the books by reading level. I would arrange them
(separate from the regular collection) in Dewey order. MANY students and
teachers will come in looking for a particular book. It is time
consuming to look through five or six shelves of blue color coded books.
Yes your aid will be constantly straightening and putting in order.

I would shelve any AR paperbacks in the proper Dewey place with the rest
of the AR books. If they are on a paperback rack all mixed up you will
spend hours finding particular titles.

Leave as much of the reporting  - all of it  - to the classroom teacher.
Don't get into doing those reports from your media center. I think this
should be a classroom activity - not one generated from the media
center.

We've had a store this year - the kids love it - and it takes almost two
days out of my week. I have to stock it which means regular trips to The
Dollar Store and SAMs - 45 mins from here. All day on Friday - we sell -
I have to stay right with the store. Student helpers are okay in a pinch
but students don't behave properly unless I'm in there. They also steal
stuff. PTA helpers are not much better - reluctant to correct and then
doctor's appointments always crop up at the last minute.  I spend a lost
of time fundraising for the store - asking for funds and prices. I hate
that part of it. We're always asking for money from partners. In other
words - I wish I had chosen something easier to deal with than a store,
Maybe some standard prizes as they reach 25, 50, 75 etc.  Like I said the
kids love the store - but it is a drain on my time and energy.

I know that there is a controversy about shelving the books separately
form the regular collection. You can not imagine how much traffic there
is going to be. The children will arrive in hoards - looking for a book
on their level - the shortest one - and scoot back to the room to read.
Many of those kids will be back the same day to swap that book either
because they have finished it or they didn't like it.  Your shelves will
look like a tornado has been through them. I prefer to keep this tornado
strewn area to a minimum. Actually those are the only books our children
ever check out now - except for a few drawing books.  We have about 2000
AR books and 800 6-8 graders.

I'm sure I've told you more than you want to know. I also run a computer
lab in the media center. AR keeps my aide busy during the entire day - I
get no help with any thing anymore. AR is draining.

*******************************************************************************
I too use AR and have caught a couple of kids cheating.  I like the
guidelines you use with your students and I will definitely use something
like this for the coming school year - where parents and students sign.

I require my students to acquire a certain number of points each 9 weeks -
No. of points equals 1 grade in my grade book.  For example 1st 9 weeks -
20 points or more equals an A, 16-19.9 equals a B etc.  2nd 9 weeks
requires 30 points for an A and the rest of the scale is adjusted.  This
worked well for me last year.  In addition to this, students have to do a
couple of book reports each 9 weeks - When I say book reports, it can mean
a range of activities such as --- a character map listing each character
and details about each one ---a character journal where the student assumes
a character's role and keeps a daily journal etc.  I found that giving them
writing assignments with their reading helps them stay on task and READ.
Anytime they do a book report on an AR book, I also count the score on the
book as a test grade.  This seemed to work well too.
*****************************************************************************

 I also do not want to start AR wars, so I am sending this to you. I teach
4 sections of 8th grade LA, and we have used AR for several years. Every year
we change it a little to suit our situation. This year our AR grade is going
to be 20% of the LA grade. We are still working on grading, but it will be
based on:
1 - % of points earned
2 - % correct
3 - improvement in reading level
4 - reading nonfiction.

Our Curriculum Spt. added #4 since our end-of-grade test is 75% nonfiction
reading.

I give my students grades every 3 weeks so that they will have a chance to
bring their grades up if they are low.

We give everyone STAR tests at the beginning of the year, and assign points
based on that. We are lucky in that we have 1 hr of reading every day.
Students take tests by language arts class, but they do their reading by
homeroom. They may take tests during that hour, or in class -- if the teacher
lets them.

I use my own certificates, and have an AR bulletin board in the classroom. We
also have a school bulletin board by the office.

****************************************************************************
Oh yes, cheating. We don't have too much of that since students cannot take a
test without a signed reading log that says they have read the book.

****************************************************************************
I've used AR for several years with my 6th graders and I like the program.
If you write to AR they will supply you with research data about the
program and this also has several good suggestions for working with the
program.  I set up requirements for each nine weeks.  1st-5 points, any
grade level;2nd-8pts.any level;3rd-10pts. any level for
90%(A-),15pts=100%;4th-10pts=90%,15pts=95%,20pts=100% at assigned reading
level(I make assignments based on what they have been doing and what I feel
may challenge them)  I have on average 25 students to look after with this
program.  These points are due about 2 wks. before the end of the nine
weeks.  If not done, they stay after school until done.  I keep the points
fairly low and for the majority of the year no grade level because I want
all my students to practice reading.  I usually always have some that have
to stay, but I rarely have students that don't get their points.  Keeping
the points low also frees up my avid readers to choose books that are not on
the list. Completion of this assignment is part of the reading grade, as
well as his/her avg % correct and number of tests passed.  During reading we
make log entries once a week and most students use AR books for these so
that is one way I keep track if they are actually reading the book.  Also it
is easy to keep track of his/her checkout record.  If they haven't checked
it out, no test. I also print out and/or look at the test taken lists every
2 weeks or so.  You can usually catch a cheater at a glance. Our 8th grade
teacher with 100 students to look after uses as similar system in that she
must see the book they check out and then must bring back the book to take
the test.  Cheating can be a problem, but I discuss this with students and
then place a little trust in them.  I also feel that this is just as good -
no probably better- system than the book(jacket/film/notes...)reports that I
used to get from students-Talk about cheating or not reading the book!!  I
always have student say each year, "you know, I've never read a whole book
before or earned any points.
***************************************************************************





~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-

   Kate Gallion
   Librarian~Teacher~Alternative Ed.
   Project M.O.R.E. H.S.                         Books won't crash
   Tucson, Az. 85719                                  in the year 2000
   cag@azstarnet.com
   kgallion@tusd.k12.az.us

~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-*~"^"~*-,._.,-

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
 To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
   listserv@listserv.syr.edu          In the message write EITHER:
    1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
 4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv
 For LM_NET Help & Archives see:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=