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We have a very successful AR program at the middle level. Here is the way we deal with some recently raised concerns: =80All "AR books" in the LMC are marked with a small label (sold by an independent company, I believe) that indicates Level and Points. =80Students are tested using STAR, but are not given a grade level equivalency, they are given their ZPD, or reading range, as we call it. ****If teachers are not instructing students in how to use their reading range/ZPD, then I don't see how the AR program can operate very well.***** =80 Students can check anything out, but teachers and the librarian work with them on selection. Experienced AR students know that good book selection i= s the single most important factor in passing an AR test. =80Students learn to self-regulate their book selection based on reading range. If they want to read other books, they do it on their own time. =80We encourage students to start at the low end (esp. in 6th grade) until they get the hang of what the AR system is all about. =80We explain that AR levels are NOT grade levels and are often 2 years off o= f grade levels. In simple terms I always said the levels were "assigned by the company that makes the tests and the go along with the STAR test and reading range to show where a student should be reading to get the most growth." =80Several 6th grade teachers will do a class novel and then take the AR test as a class to get students used to the system. =80Students gain and build confidence in their reading as they pass tests and get to know the AR system. The beginning of the year with AR is a high-stakes time and it must be handled very carefully. AR is a tool and as such it can be used well or poorly. I did develop a ba= g of tricks that helped me and my students to really enjoy AR. I think using AR successfully takes significant time and effort from the classroom teacher, especially if it is a graded program. My ideas are written up in this manual. Here is my web site. http://www.du.edu/~vgrenawa/ar/index.htm Val --=20 Valerie Grenawalt Language Arts Newton Middle School Littleton, CO MLIS student University of Denver vgrenawa@du.edu =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= 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/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=