[LIT] Accelerated Reader

[Deborah Bova]

I am an avid fan of independent reading; I never push accelerated reader for 
my students. I think it is so much a "memory" and knowledge level evaluation 
that I just can not do more than give cursory support to those kids who 
choose to do it. I would never do it as a reader; my school's best reader 
was a 6th grader in my regular ed class. His status was unknown to me prior 
to the award on awards day. I was happy for him, but I can not see it as a 
way to track a students reading. I just hate having to keep track of points, 
etc. So... it works for some and not for others. For the kids who buy into 
it... it is great. I am happy for them but not committed to making it a part 
of my grading.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Lou" <mlbela28 at verizon.net>
To: "'A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades.'" 
<lit at literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 5:09 AM
Subject: [LIT] Accelerated Reader


>
> Hi all,
>
> A question came up yesterday in my middle level DI course.  A student was
> wondering about the use of Accelerated Reader in school as the primary
> strategy to track a middle level student's independent reading.
>
> This teacher would like to see some alternative strategies used to do 
> this.
> It is her opinion that students who have "good memories" do well with 
> these
> tests, students that do not have good memories do more poorly and feel
> discouraged.
>
> So...do you use it and how effective in your opinion is it?  For those of
> you who use alternative means to track outside reading and have used AR in
> the past - how did you convince your school to move to other tracking 
> means?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Mary Lou
>
>
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