ELEM: T-L needs help re: pros and cons of Book Adventure program from the Sylvan Educational Centre

[Elizabeth Gillies <yarrowlib2@YAHOO.CA>]

Hello LM-Netters and myriad of collective heads,

       A colleague of mine has been approached to
incorporate Book Adventure from the Sylvan Institute
into the school library.  I have AR in my library
(inherited and workable ..not totally endorsed ) and
have looked at the Sylvan site briefly.
       This colleague is not a fan of levelled reading
books in the library and has tried hard to keep the
library free of these kinds of programs. The belief
held is that children should have freedom of choice in
what they read recreationally, but my colleague may
have to incorporate some levelled reading program in
spite of philosophical beliefs.

My questions are thus:

Have any of you used the Sylvan program?

If you have, how have you proceeded in the library?

Are books levelled and lablelled?

How did you find those books....searching manually
through all the library collection seems to be the
only way.

Were there any hidden (or not) costs to the program
(how can they run this free?)?

How does it compare with AR?

Are the print-outs instantaneous?

It implies that there are some difficulities using
Macs?  Have you found this?

How does it compare with AR or reading Counts?


Are the test questions factual or comprehension based?
Is there any interpretation?

How much library involvement does it take?

How much library time does it take?


Would you recommend this program?


Your responses are greatly appreciated....


              Thanks,

               Elizabeth




=====
Elizabeth Gillies B.A., Diploma of Ed. (Library Ed.)
Teacher-Librarian
Yarrow Community Elementary School K-6
46361 Yale Rd Chilliwack BC V2P 2P9
ph:(604) 823-4408
email:yarrowlib2@yahoo.com

______________________________________________________________________
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) 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 see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
 See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
    http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=