I have not been a public librarian, but I faced many of the same problems in
the elementary school library. The program was run by some of the teachers
and I don't think they were trained in using it. Even when I would try to
ask about the student's interests, favorite authors, etc. and point them to
something I thought they might enjoy (often AR as well), they still wanted
skinny books they could read quickly. I think it may come down to what
someone else said about the way the program is run. If people have been to
the AR training and the program is run that way, I'm sure it can be a very
beneficial program. When it is done mostly for the points, rewards and
celebrations, etc.it can be hard to see any benefit.
Carol Ebel
Library Media Specialist
School District of Bonduel
715-758-4840 ext.400
ebelcar@bonduel.k12.wi.us
> ----------
> From: Ann Brady
> Reply To: ANABUG865@AOL.COM
> Sent: Monday, November 4, 2002 1:18 PM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: AR Problems con't
>
> I was just curious... I would like to hear the opinions of school
> librarians
> that were once public librarians about AR and Reading Counts.
>
> I was a Youth Services Librarian and I can't count how many times students
> with their parents were frantic about getting enough points for that
> marking
> period, usually the weekend before the end of the marking period. Were
> they
> looking for Authors they enjoy? No. Were they looking for challenging
> books? No. Were they looking for one challenging book that would give
> all
> the points they need? No. Were they looking for books on their reading
> level? Sometimes. Students were looking for the shortest, easiest books
> that they could read quickly. It was common for a student to check out 5
> or
> so Dr. Seuss books when their reading level was much higher, just to get
> the
> points.
>
> I don't think that there is an absolute answer. But I do think that AR or
> Reading Counts should be a part, maybe a large part, of a Reading Program
> and
> not stand alone.
>
> Ann Brady, Former School Librarian, Grad Student
> Newport News, VA
> anabug_865@yahoo.com
>
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