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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/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------