This type of library setup sounds awesome, and I applaud Debra for her
accomplishments. The problem I had with AR when my son was in school
was that he didn't have a choice. Everyone did AR. In second grade he
was reading at a 6th or 7th grade level, and they didn't have any
books for him with AR tests at that level. So it may have been helpful
for other students, but was an unfair waste of his time. It's great if
you have the option of using AR in a particular way and with selected
students. But when it is thrust upon everyone without the thoughtful
approach that Debra and Janet have described, I think it is unhelpful
and unfair.
Marsha Redd, Librarian
Kelloggsville High School
Grand Rapids, MI
marsharedd@hotmail.com
Education is not a goal; it is a life-long process. Everyone is a
student. Everyone is a teacher.
On Aug 29, 2009, at 9:38 AM, debra evetts wrote:
>
> The students that are referred to in the New York Times are not the
> students that I use AR with at my school. The students that devour
> books always have more than enough books read. Most of the time
> they are the students that are requesting books they know are
> coming out next week. These students want to make sure I have a
> trip to Books A Million in my plans because they want the book the
> day it comes out.
>
> The students I use with AR are the ones that read a book and can't
> pass the test, or don't read a book, or just say they hate to read.
> That is when I run reports and mark my rolls so when they come into
> the library I can have an educated guess at what their reading level
> is and where to start. We will start with what they are interested
> in, what type of print they like, or even books on tape, cd, or play-
> aways, that have the book with them to follow along. Through the
> years our school has seen improvement in the amount of reading,
> quality of the books read, and improved comprehension and vocabulary.
>
> Our school does require points and I do have rewards for points, but
> in the library the students know we are about the love of reading,
> the love of books, and the thrill of the new book the day it comes
> out. We have been in school three weeks, I have six-hundred
> students and twenty copies of the twilight series and a two page
> waiting list. The students have marked on my calender the days new
> books are coming out. We are rocking.
> This year I lost my aide due to budget cuts, and my administration
> is more like a dictatorship, but I am the weather in the library.
>
> Debra Evetts
> Librarian
> Greenbrier Middle School
> Greenbrier, TN
> debra.evetts@att.net
>
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