Thank you for all of the responses I received inquiring about Accelerated=20
Reader and Reading Counts. I apologize for posting this target so late but=20
technology is rather challenging for me.
Wendy Tenhagen-Muro=20
Hines Middle School
Newport News, VA 23601
wendy.muro@nn.k12.va.us
The Target was:
I am a middle school media specialist and am not familiar with the Scholasti=
c=20
program Reading Counts. I would like to hear from anyone who has the Readin=
g=20
Counts Program in their middle school. I've read that Scholastic claims it i=
s=20
a less expensive program to purchase than Accelerated Reader. There appears=
=20
to be very little research on either program. If anyone has worked with bot=
h=20
programs, I would be very interested in hearing your opinions concerning=20
which program is better and why.
Thank you for your responses in advance.
Wendy,
The following is a hit that was posted some time ago about RC over AR. I
have used both programs; I instituted Reading Counts in my old school about
7 years ago (back when it was called Electronic Bookshelf). I used it for
grades 6-12. I moved to an AR school last year, and although there are
certain aspects that I like about AR, overall Reading Counts is a superior
program. In fact the High School Library Media Specialist and myself are
going to try a major push to switch the district to Reading Counts. I hope
the information included helps. The biggest reason that I like RC is the
fact that the program pulls from a bank of 30 questions instead of just 10.
It allows two students to take the same test at the same time and won't get
the same exact questions. I feel it cuts down on cheating or one student
feeding another the questions.
Curtis L. Clark
Library Media Specialist
Pleasant Hill Middle School
1301 East Myrtle Street
Pleasant Hill, MO 64080
816 540 2149 #122
Fax # 816 987 2017 cclark@phill.k12.mo.us
<mailto:cclark@phill.k12.mo.us>
=20
I used Electronic Bookshelf the predecessor to Reading
Counts for many years. I had so much success with it
that we now use it K-12 throughout the district. RC is
much more flexible than other programs on the market.
With RC, you determine all testing criteria. Quizzes
are randomly generated from a database of 30 questions
so no two students ever get the same quiz twice. Also,
you determine passing score, whether you want to give
points or not, how many questions needed to pass, etc.
Good luck
Paula
A Reading Counts sales rep called me this morning to follow up on some
network/platform issues we've been working through. She said they are
currently testing a Web based version with expanded testing options, home
access, etc, expected to be available this spring. Sounded like something
worth getting more information about. It's apparently not yet ready to
preview. It will be offered as an annual subscription per classroom or by
site license with pricing relative to student numbers.
Dave Boroughs
Media Specialist
Covington Middle School
Vancouver WA
360-604-1001 X5831
Our school district has used Scholastic Reading Counts since it first
was developed. We love it and are using it with grades K-12. Our
students are reading more than they ever had before and are talking more
about the books they have read. It is definitely "IN" to be reading at
Vandalia.
I would suggest that you contact Scholastic either by phone or by the
internet and request the demo CD-ROM. There are 120 tests on the demo.
Try it and see what you think.
The reason I like Reading Counts best is that there are 30 questions for
each test in the database. You decide how many questions you want each
child to receive for each test. We usually have the students answer 10
questions. No two students will receive the same test. The computer
gives a different test each time.
I also like the way the program is so adaptable. You can make the
decision as to how many times the students can take the test and if they
must wait a day before taking it again. You have a variety of reports
and certificate that you can use. We use incentives in the elementary
schools and grades in the secondary school. We do not give the grade
they get on the test, but rather it is based on the number of points
they have earned.
I really looked into the pros and cons before purchasing either
program. From what I can figure out the biggest thing that AR has going
for it is their advertising dept. My daughter has just started teaching
in an AR building in another state. I'll be looking forward to getting
her reaction.
Feel free to write or call with any other questions.
Carol Jo Mayer
K-12 Media Coordinator
Vandalia Community Schools
1109 N. 8th St.
Vandalia, Illinois, 62471
Phone: 618-283-4525
Reading Counts has worked well at our 6-8 campus. We like the 30
question bank of questions for each book so each student gets a
different test. Also, the teachers can print out a test so a student
can take it on paper. We do SRI testing with their program as well.
Carol McCullar, Morton ISD, Morton, TX
I have had Reading Counts in my middle school for 15 years. Of course,
it was called the Electronic Bookshelf then and ran on one apple IIe.
(dark ages) I love the program. I cannot attest to the cost
differential since I have been investing slowly over many, many years.=20
I think the per test cost is less when ordering after the initial
purchase of the program. If you wish to invest 11.95 order the SRC
tests from Arrow or Tab book Clubs (I'm sure one of your teachers orders
from them.) The test disk has a sample of the program. =20
It is very easy to administer. Because I push it through the media
center, I usually enter the students into the data base. It is quite
easy. It will actually transfer over from some school administration
programs. Our's is new this year and they didn't have the bugs out in
time for me to try it this year. I also sort the student by teacher. I
do this for my convenience at the end of the year when I celebrate
successes. I have shown the teachers how to put their students into
classes.
After being entered into the database, the student can take a quiz.=20
The quizzes can be tailored to the class. I have some classes who take
a 10 question quiz and can have up to 3 chances to pass it. Most of my
other teachers prefer a 20 question quiz with 2 chances to pass. My 8th
grade talented and gifted teacher uses 20 questions and 1 chance to
pass. Each quiz is supposed to have up to 30 questions. Some don't.=20
The student who has less than 30 questions should have a slightly
different to totally different quiz each time they log in. (If they
pass the first time, they cannot take it again to get a better grade).=20
I spend very little time managing this after the initial student entry.
We do have a little form we use for verification that they came into
the media center to take the quiz and what their score is. That was a
personal choice. =20
Some of your teachers will jump on this and run with it. Others will
have to be shown.=20
If you have any specific questions, I'll be glad to help to the best of
my ability.
Call if you like. We are in the same time zone. 803-541-1382
Heidi Lewis
School Library Media Specialist
Guinyard Butler Middle School
Barnwell, SC 29812
I'm a middle school LMS in Tulsa, OK.=20
I tried to use AR for 2 =BD years but had many technical difficulties
because of our LAN/WAN which is NT. We used the latest version available; I
finally gave up and replaced AR with Scholastic's RC! at the recommendation
of our district technician who fixed problems with both programs.=20
So far, I like RC! better. It is much more user (teacher) friendly! We
are waiting arrival of the SRI expansion licenses so all 600 of our students
can take the reading inventory. We already have a Read180 teacher and
swapped out our AR software and quizzes for free. . Today I just
downloaded our building's student database without any problems. I'm
administrator of the program building wide. You might check with me later in
the year.
Edith LaForge, Chairperson, N.E.A. Libraries,
Technology, and Information Caucus=20
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Edith LaForge, Teacher-Librarian
Hamilton Middle School ~ Tulsa Public Schools District
2316 North Norwood Place
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74115=20
email: lafored@tulsaschools.org home: laforge@tulsaconnect.com=20
home page: http://www.tulsaschools.org/hamilton/
We use Reading Counts at our Jr. High. We switched from AR to RC about four=
=20
years ago. Everyone is completely delighted with the upgrade. The tests ar=
e=20
better (no one ever gets the same test). The book list is substantially=20
better. Tech support has never been a problem. The program installed easil=
y=20
and runs smoothly. =20
I think AR and RC are about the same price when all factors are=20
considered. However, RC pricing is a somewhat easier to understand. =20
Try checking out the RC site at www.readingcounts.com Also try calling=
=20
RC and getting a demo disk of the program. 1-877-Counts-1. Ask for research=
.=20
=20
---
Donna Cook, Nacogdoches, Texas :
Teacher Librarian Central High;
District Library Coordinator, Central ISD;
donnacook@lycos.com
936-853-9345 (work)
936-569-2426 (home)
"Books are the holes in the fences of life"--Peg Kehret
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