Hit#2: New AR Reading Levels

[Mary Taylor <maryft@ATL.MEDIAONE.NET>]

Hello,
Thanks again to all who responded.  My local school technology coordinator
and I discussed our situation and your responses were very helpful.  We've
decided to go ahead with the full reading level upgrade because future
tests, disks, and information will be based on the upgrade, not earlier
reading levels, so we decided to take the plunge.  I'm still working out the
details of how we will label our books, but it will probably involve a major
relabeling (hopefully involving all our teachers) as well as some labeling
"on the fly" during the school year as students check out books.  Since only
half of the automation catalog records had been updated with accelerated
reader levels, it will simply mean starting again to implement the new
levels there.  The media clerk and I will work on this during the school
year.  We have also decided to simplify and mark all the AR books with the
same color on the book spine, marking the grade level, etc. on the inside
cover, to prevent students from feeling stigmatized for their reading levels
(this will also make it easier to deal with the reading level changes in
light of our current color coded system).  We will also print lists of AR
books with reading levels and points.  No doubt, we will also be working
hard to communicate effectively to all the teachers and students that
accelerated reader levels have changed.  Thanks again!!  :)

Also, here are a few more responses that weren't in the earlier hit:

Hi,
I am so glad that you brought this up because I am really wondering what
everyone thinks.  My two schools are heavily into AR and I mark my books
with a
red sticker (transparent spine label) on the outside and then the test #,
Reading level, and points on the inside.  The teachers and kids are used to
that.  Someday I might go more detailed on the spine but I have been too
swamped
so far (5 years) with weeding, automating and packing up and unpacking for
two
new libraries.  I was very excited to see the update because we had been
having
some system problems with the 5.0 on our version.  Please post a hit about
the
feeling on whether the folks are going to switch over to the ATOS ?????  At
this
point I am not going to do it because I would have to do it when all of the
books are in and there is no time for that in two libraries.  They recommend
having kind of a marking bee with lots of volunteers to really go through
the
shelves.  I am not that organized this summer to do that.  I am pretty sure
that
you can make further decisions about it later on.
I am looking forward to your words.
Rhonella Brelinski
Columbia School District
Elementary Library Media Specialist
Brooklyn, MI 49230

I plan on upgrading and keeping the current reading levels.  I do not want
to try to tackle remarking all the books.  I am already behind with my work.
Kathy Edgar
Librarian Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary
Austin Texas




Mary Taylor
Media Specialist
Annistown Elementary
Snellville, GA
maryft@atl.mediaone.net

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