Janet wrote about her thoughts on AR. I am going to answer some of her
concerns that she listed:
(Also, please read the magazine Teacher-Librarian, April issue---it also
discusses AR.)
I am going to apologize if this sounds like a flame. It is not. IT is
directed at all of those librarians who have chosen to support their school
by being a force behind AR. Although I directed it to Janet, it is not
primarily solely for her.
*Denying a child a book because it is not in reading level.
When I was in the elementary school and was part of the team that started
AR, I NEVER denied a child a book. I did check to see if ONE of the
selections WERE an AR book within their level. Whoever said that EVERY book
checked out had to be an AR tested book? Remember, AR is a tool, and you
get to be the brain behind it.
*The rationale for funning the program as part of the library/I am not a
reading teacher.
I sure HOPE that you are a reading teacher. As the librarian you get to
help students find books that they are interested in, and you probably take
fairly good guesses at what LEVEL to steer the students to books (even
without the AR level). Why would you NOT steer them to great books that are
beneath their reading level??? Do you always read at your level? I don't.
Right now I am enjoying a lovely little book that is probably written at the
5th grade level---it is a total treat of fun. As the librarian---I
encouraged students to read, I help them to learn how to find books that
were "right" for them, and I read books that I thought would encourage them
to try books outside of their niche.
As I stated---AR is a tool. It is great for helping students increase their
reading ability by practicing in their reading level. But it is only a
tool. You are the brain that gets to select HOW and WHEN to use it. If you
decide that a child can only read in the AR range--then you are the one
making that choice--not the AR program. But if you choose to support the
teachers by marking books so that students can easily find them (do you use
genre stickers?? I know I do to help students find books by a genre--AR is
another genre), then you become a CRITICAL part of the school AR program.
YOU will be the one that will be selecting the books that will enhance your
collection. YOU will be the one to decide which new books will be added to
the AR program. YOU will be the one that will encourage teachers to have a
wide range of AR books in their class collections so that students will have
a book available to read. YOU will be one of the people that get to
CELEBRATE with a student that has just increased their reading level (which
I marked on tagboard individual shelf markers).
You might benefit from the AR class. Even the AR professionals would
encourage you to use AR as a tool to support and encourage reading. NOT be
a club of denial. We all know of students who have read a book that WE KNEW
was too hard for them, but they struggled through it because of their desire
to read it. BUT, please remember, that you learned how to read by reading
books primarily in your reading level range---some easier, some harder, and
then went to harder ones as you were confident that you could, but retreated
to easier ones for enjoyment of the written word.
JaKay Greer
Teacher-Librarian
Damascus / McCarty Middle Schools
previously Powell Valley Grade School/Kelly Creek Elementary School
Gresham, OR
irismedia@prodigy.net
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