We don't have AR, but Reading Counts, RC. I run the program, this is
the first year teachers have asked for it to be put on their computers
and want a say in the program at all. We had AR for over 10 years
before I upgraded to SRC Enterprise edition, or Read 180.
I have over 1,700 titles, many of which I don't have the book, or have
not gotten to coding them with a dot on the spine, like AR, but kids
just ask is this book on the list, or read it and try to find the test
that isn't there. I haven't heard one kid say "that was a waste of my
time!" I let everyone read anything they want, the more books read the
better, I don't care how many they check out, just as long as you read
and return your books so others can read after you are finished with the
book!
I do like the program for what it is worth, but it does not replace a
good teacher instructing children in the classroom. BTW, with RC they
can retake a test on a book, but the second and third time they get all
different questions! Ten questions each time they take the test. If
they do not pass the first time, I ask them to reread with someone, and
read the book several times before they take the test, look at the
pictures carefully and the front and back of the book.
I have 5th graders with "No David"! Only one teacher, or parent said
anything, I glared my best glare and told them to back off! The kid is
reading!
Colette
Colette D. Eason, Librarian
Marsalis ES
5640 S. Marsalis Ave.
Dallas, TX 75241
Box 317, TEA #183
Dallas ISD
ceason@dallasisd.org
972-749-3508
FAX 972-749-3501
ceason@dallasisd.org
At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that
threshold,
that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for
the
better. ~~Barack Obama
You see, I don't believe libraries should be drab places where people
sit in
silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing
wild
animals as librarians. ~~Monty Python
>>> Elizabeth_Varley <Elizabeth_Varley@WMSDE.ORG> 10/04/07 12:54 PM
>>>
You have just presented the most compelling case for consigning AR to
the deepest regions of the netherworld!
How dare any competent teacher "yell" at a child for checking out a
book
just because it wasn't "his level." Thank all the powers that be we
do
not have that program at our school, nor has any of our administration
ever entertained thoughts of getting it. This models for children
that
the only reason to read a book is to pass a test on it. How awful!
Where is the initiative to explore a topic that really interests a
child? It's this sort of warped thinking that is the impetus for
NCLB.
You are only successful if you can pass the test. UCK! You have my
deepest sympathies.
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Kendra Molen
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 1:40 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Target: (Elem) Teachers restricting books
I am feeling the same frustrations regarding AR and the reading level.
I'm the new librarian and the person that I replaced would check the
book's reading level against the student's ZPD before checking it out
to the student. They were only allowed to check out in their zone and
they were not allowed to check out a book if it was not AR. Unless
the student was in kindergarten. Kindergarten students were never
allowed to check out an AR book. I don't agree with this practice so
I let students check out books that they are interested in. I'm
feeling the wrath of this practice from teachers and some parents. I
let a first grader check out a cook book and the classroom teacher
yelled at the child and made him return the book. They are not
allowed to check out a book that isn't on their level or they get in
trouble in the classroom. I even heard one of the teachers say that a
kid keeps "wasting their time checking out books that aren't AR". I
almost cried when I heard this and I think it's a horrible message to
send to children. From the parents I get complaints because their
first or second grader can't read the book. I suggest that they read
it together, then they complain because their child knew the book but
didn't pass the quiz because they couldn't read it.
I get so frusterated when students say that they really want to read a
book but that they can't because it's not on their reading level!
Apparently some teachers will go into AR management and erase quizzes
if the book isn't on a student's level.
Kendra Molen
EHEMS
Baker, WV
kamolen@gmail.com
On 10/4/07, Becky Mosbacher <bmosbacher@hellgate.k12.mt.us> wrote:
> I love to ask adults what their reading level is. Of course, every
> teacher here would have a college reading level. I guess they
should
> not read John Grisham, Tom Clancy or any other book that is not a
> college text book.
>
> Becky Mosbacher
> Teacher/Librarian
> Hellgate Middle School
> 2385 Flynn Lane
> Missoula, MT 59808
> bmosbacher@hellgate.k12.mt.us
> 406-721-2452
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Cathy S. Hainstock
> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 4:45 PM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Target: (Elem) Teachers restricting books
>
>
> <snip>
> The rights issue is a weak one in schools, unfortunately. However,
kids
> should be able to make their own reading choices because they are
the
> ones doing the reading. A child checking out books far above their
> abilities will eventually tire of this and move to books they can
read.
>
> And what do they do when they leave the school and the rest of the
world
> is organized by AR colors?
>
> Bob Koreis
> Librarian
> Hockinson High School
> bob.koreis@hock.k12.wa.us
>
> <snip>
>
> I am so tired of teachers coming into the library and telling
students
> that they cannot check out certain books because they are not on
their
> reading level according to one test that was given. Am I wrong or
is
> this censorship? My principal is strongly for AR and is big on
students
> reading only books in their ZPD. What can I say to her to convince
her
> that students need to be free in the library to make their own
choices
> of what to read and that we are infringing on their rights?
>
> Janet L. McCoy, LMS
> McAuliffe Elementary, Tulsa, OK
> mccoymedia@yahoo.com
>
>
>
> Hi All,
> I'm fairly new to this list-serv but thought those of you
experiencing
> restriction requests from staff might be interested in a book called
> "The Rights of the Reader" by Daniel Pennac. The quote on the inside
> cover is ... "You can't make someone read. Just like you can't make
them
> fall in love, or dream ...". In this book Pennac defends the right
to
> read for pleasure, the power of the story and how we learn to read
(what
> helps and what gets in the way). You can also find a small poster
(free
> to download) of Pennac's Rights of the Reader at
>
http://www.walkerbooks.co.uk/Downloads/The-Rights-of-the-Reader-poster
>
> Sometimes people worry so much about 'filling the bucket' that they
> forget to 'light the fire'. Hope this book is of some help.
>
> Cheers,
> Cathy Hainstock
> Teacher-in-the-library
> Village School Primary
> Croydon North, Victoria
> Australia
>
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