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I relate 100% -- and you know what -
If I inspire one child to read something they wouldn't have ever read -- I opened a 
door and a new thought for them --
you don't read alot of books and don't get something from it --

so to all of the "experts" and all of the "research"

Research can tell anyone anything they want to hear -- depends on who does the 
research and who analyzes it --

As I have said many times -- anything can be misused ---

All of the test scores in the world -- will never replace the look on a child's 
face when they are excited -- or when you see the lightbulb of understanding go off 
--
sometimes we never know what children we touch and with what things we do

I have had former students come up to me at football games and tell me about things 
we did in the media center that I don;t remember but inspired them and they still 
remember them.

I had a student tell me they still had the certificate framed that they received 
for being a library worker (at least 15 years ago);
students tell me they still had reading certificates -
copies of stories they wrote on the computer (back we when we using Apple IIe's)

Those rewards and thankfulness of those students --- are worth more than any money 
or test score for me
Just my two cents on a Friday night --

Paula

Guusje Moore <guusje@MINDSPRING.COM> wrote:
I use AR, I "reward" kids for reading. I work in a poor, ESL, Title 1,
recent immigrant you name we are it school. Many of our kids don't come to
school with an intrinsic love of reading (or learning). Yet there is NCLB
and there is the TAKS test, there is district pressure, my Principals job is
on the line and we are under the gun to raise the reading scores. The only
way to become a better, more proficient reader is to READ.
They may not enjoy it but they gotta do it.

Heck, I don't like to drive but I do it and do it every day. It's a
survival skill. And I'm rewarded for driving as it gets me to work and gets
me a pay check. Could I work from home I would!

Reading is a survival skill too. Along the way I get the kids who LOVE to
read and would read whether we have AR or not. Since we have AR those kids
have clout and status at school - and in Texas, with it's "Football is the
end all and be all" culture that's something. In fact it's a huge
something.

Our reading scores are now in the high to mid 90%. We lead the district in
circulation and the one thing visitors always comment is that the kids are
always reading. Maybe it's for the parties and social events I organize and
maybe it's for the love of reading but they are READING.

I raised 2 non readers myself. I'm a reader, their father is a reader, the
house is all over books, I sell books on E-bay. I did everything the experts
say you should do to ensure a bookworm and I produced two bright, college
graduates who don't read. I think you are born with the love of reading,
just like some folks are born with the love of music or sports or horseback
riding.

And in the meantime, we've got to turn all of those who aren't born with the
spark into proficient readers and if it takes rewards, well so be it.


Guusje Moore
Librarian, Housman Elementary School
Spring Branch ISD
Houston, TX
guusje@mindspring.com
Day in the Life of a School Librarian
http://guusjem.blogspot.com/

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Paula Yohe
Director Of Technology/Library Media Center
Dillon School District Two
405 West Washington Street
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: 843-841-3604 Fax:843-774-1214
paula_yohe@yahoo.com
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