Some are ultra-conservative, others ultra-liberal. But most of us fall
somewhere between the two extremes. We take from both perspectives to
create a philosophy and life style that seems to work for us. The same
is true with most any educational philosophy. FVR is ideal; but we are
far from an ideal world with students (as several have already
eloquently written) who can become intrinsically motivated just by
having good books available for them. I have not responded to the strong
objections of AR programs before; but now that an actual question has
been asked I would like to share my experience.
Most AR programs that I have seen objected to by professors, staff and
students have been poorly run and not in line with the research
performed by the parent company, Renaissance Learning, or outside
organizations. Arbitrarily setting a point goal and restricting reading
to certain leveled books is wrong. Using the program to help guide
students to materials that will not be too easy and not too hard
provides me another tool to assist the 750 students I currently serve in
grades 4-6. In the past year and a half, when I arrived and we began
doing AR "correctly", I have won every teacher over. Over a dozen
teachers refused to let their students participate at the beginning of
last year. Now every classroom is an active participant because the
teachers have seen for themselves students become readers. Why do we
give smiley faces and stickers and other rewards in elementary (and
sometimes even up to high) school? Because until behavior becomes a
habit and something that is intrinsically motivated, we provide other
motivations. In fact, even as adults external motivators are provided
for activities that we should perform just for the sheer joy of them
(grades are not only an external measurement of performance, but also
used heavily as a motivator; people are often advised to reward
themselves for sticking to healthy eating and exercise routines). I
don't worry about the students who are already readers- none of them
stop because of AR and many have told me how nice is to be recognized
for something other than observable academics like spelling tests or
math or worse, sports. Watching Ty become a huge fantasy reader starting
with Deltora Quest books because at first, he just wanted to go to the
reading celebration at the end of the marking period; Debryn started
with Heartlands books and now reads everything because of the same
reason; Curtis, who receives special services, joined his entire class
in achieving an "academic" goal for the first time EVER because his goal
was right for him and he feels a part of school like never before.
Hundreds of students reading now and choosing their own books! I set
aside budget and order almost everything requested: students have a form
to request specific AR quizzes and books. Can't get an AR quiz on a
book? I write my own or better, I let the 6th grade students write their
own. Now we have incorporated writing skills and identifying key events
into the equation. Our non-AR book circulation has doubled- this is
because students have discovered reading and are reading everything they
can get their hands on that sounds interesting to them.
By the way, this works at the high school level. Before moving to
Gaylord I worked as an 11th-12th grade social studies teacher in a small
rural community in mid-Michigan. The administration asked volunteers to
attend a day long presentation on Renaissance Learning to evaluate the
services. The high school librarian and I were the only 2 to attend and
we were sold. She began the administration and I prepared to make it a
requirement for all my students because reading is important to every
discipline. Oh, did the students grumble and complain!!! "We don't have
time for this@!&!" I stuck with it and set the goal for myself. I told
them that if I could not reach my goal as a working mother, still going
to school with homework to do, I would turn everything they had earned
in to extra credit. It began with those students who cannot bear to get
anything less than an A. But then, just like AR said, it spread. Soon we
could not keep books on the shelves. My girls were all reading A Tree
Grows in Brooklyn and Tarzan of the Apes and others and my boys were all
reading Friday Night Lights. It spread to people who were not in my
class, "Ohmigosh, have you read......you HAVE to read it". Seven years
after it's beginning with one teacher in the classroom, the high school
has a DEAR program. When it is cancelled for meetings the students
complain. Is it perfect? Of course not! Has EVERY student been reached?
Not yet. Other students need a different motivator (candy works great at
the high school) and some they haven't found the right one. But never in
my wildest dreams would I have imagined the strength and number of
readers they would now have.
P.S. My current job is split between the 4-6 grade building and the high
school this year. I have started AR with one teacher. I hope to
replicate our previous success and create more readers in northern rural
Michigan.
P.P.S. Best book for a struggling reading boy whose interests are mostly
hunting, fishing, farming, and cars??? My Side of the Mountain. I was
able to convince dozens of my students that a few good books did exist
by starting with this one. My favorite comment: "Mrs. Rinehart, that
book didn't suck at all. Do you have any other good books in the
library?" I was able to find him a few :-)
Christine Rinehart
Library Media Specialist
Gaylord Community Schools
Gaylord Michigan
989-731-0856 ext. 1511
989-731-0969 ext. 1217
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