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I don't want to continue this argument over reading management programs, but
I do want to mention how it is used in my school district (K through 12th
grades) and why I feel it works well for us.
1st. Our district implemented a 30-minute reading period during which all
students are to read BOOKS.... not magazines, not homework time. They don't
have to read Accelerated REader books, but it is encouraged if the
student's individual goal has not yet been met. (And with this committment I
got two full-time aides, one in each library I serve!)
2nd. We set goals according to reading level. (determined with Advantage
Learning's Star software) AR has a chart to determine the amount of points a
student can be expected to attain in a school year reading at their reading
level and at least an hour a day. We have found students can easily attain
this goal.
3rd. The percentage of goal attained is 10 to 15% of their language arts
grade, starting at 3rd grade. Teachers review goals and points with
students frequently so they know where they are grade-wise and goal-wise.
4th We use reading logs as the program advises. That way we in the library,
the reading specialist, the resource room teachers, and regular classroom
teachers can instantly see what's going on with the student's reading. (In
fact the students quickly learn to read and decipher the log.
5th As the librarian I only allow students to have one AR book at a time,
but they may have three books from the library at any time. This encourages
students to read other books..... (I really push non-fiction, some of my
favorites)
6th Once the student has acheived their annual goal, they may choose any
books to read as long as they are reading !! If they wish they may write AR
tests for non-AR books (We have 200 self-made tests!) or they may read any
AR books at any level above or below their level ) Teachers usually count
this as extra credit. I read and rewrite any student-made tests, and do not
guarantee that they will be put on AR. Several teachers and aides have
written tests for us.
Our public library had tripled the summer checkouts in the YA and Children's
sections within a few years of the AR program being used in the school
district, and we don't DO AR in the summer!!
Our rewards? Scholastic bookfair comes twice a year. The students may use
points to buy books from the fair (I use the books-for-profit $$ to provide
them) At Christmas and the end of year we have AR stores that have "garage
sale" stuff, as well as gift certificates to the video store, movie theatre
and pizza places. (We don't have a local bookstore, unfortunately)
That's it. A well oiled machine basically; everyone working together....
but the bottom line is that kids love to read! I push them to read types of
literature that they don't normally read or don't like in the grade school
and elementary... then find that in high school they are able to read
anything and see some validity even in books that they personally don't care
for....and discuss it with other students and teachers. We have parents
reading books their children have recommended! And teachers reading books
their students recommend..... And I buy books that students, teachers, and
parents recommend...... In fact, our students are reading way beyond my
budget!!
!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Sharon Koontz
K-12 LMS USD286
Sedan KS 67361
Home: koontzs@hit.net
School: koontzs@usd286-sedan-ks.org
I'm not organizationally challenged, I'm chaotically gifted!
?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
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