- Accelerated Reader
- posted by Terri Martin on 3/01/98
I would just like feedback from those of you who are using
the Accelerated Reader Program in your classroom. Also, are
you involved with a program called Reading Renaissance?
This is my first year to use the program and I am definitely
not won over. Terri
posted by Sue, skahl@manistee-isd.k12.mi.us, on 3/01/98
I am currently using the Accelerated Reader program in my
second grade classroom. My students enjoy the challenge of
reading independently and taking the tests on the computer.
This is our third year using this program. I think they read
more carefully than they might otherwise. It is helping them
bedome better readers. I am not familiar with the Reading Renaissance program.
Posted by Jack, jmoles@esu6.esu6.k12.ne.us, on 3/02/98
Terri: Our school is in its 2nd year of using Accelerated Reader and we have seen more interest in reading among our students than with any program (some
self-designed) we have ever used. I highly endorse it.
Posted by Kathy, bestvaterk@tlc.k12.ks.us, on 3/03/98
Hi Terri,
I've taught Title I reading grades 1-4 for 9 years. I bought
AR about 6-7 years ago and used it with just my reading
students. I spent a great deal of time reading TO the kids
and meticulously walking them thru the test process. After a
few months, they were ASKING for the names of books to read
and could they please take a test? I knew they were hooked.
Furthermore, I started out by reading the tests to them,
following the words with my finger. Later, I began to pause
while reading, and the kids promptly filled in my pauses. I
was overjoyed when the kids began to fill in the ANSWERS
before I could get thru the question!! Last year we
implimented AR schoolwide and we've had some valleys and peaks
in our experiences. Most of our 2-4th grade teachers have
taken the one day course CREATING WORLD CLASS READERS and it
has been VERY HELPFUL to shape our program. Only one of our
staff has been to Reading Renesainse (sp). The company
advertises this session for teachers who will be "trainers of
trainers." I've even attended WORLD CLASS more than once and
gotten something useful each time because there were different
presenters who brought the benefit of their own classrooms to
the workshop. By the way, we do NOT offer a "store" for the
kids to cash in their points. We have another incentive
program that works well without the junky stuff . . . and
that's a whole 'nuther subject. Hang in there. Give it a
chance. Kathy
Posted by Betsy on 3/04/98
Dear Terri....this is our second year using accelerate reader
and I love it. We don't do the junky store stuff or make a
big deal over the points. I keep a point chart on the back
bulletin board but I don't update it very often...really the
kids just do it because they think it's fun! My second
graders are always reading and taking tests. My own child in
fifth grade is more into the points though....she picks books
sometimes because it has the most points...this concerns me
somewhat but she reads other materials too and the books she
reads are good ones.
Hang in there...the program grows on you!
Posted by Lori Basham, basham@flash.net, on 3/05/98
Our Accelerated Reader program is offered to 3rd-5th grade
only. After the kids read, they take the test, and score
points. Our PTA funds our store, which is open once a month
during lunch time. As a parent, I head this store by
purchasing merchandise for the children. Our prizes range
from rubber snakes, rabbits foot, (a favorite), Glow in the
dark stars for their rooms with constellations, and paperback
books. The prizes range from 1pt. to 100 pts. The kids shop
the store and this keeps up their interest. Outside our
computer lab, stars are posted with the childs name and amount
of points earned most to least category. They compete for
number one!
They have the incentive to read,but the prizes add to their
enjoyment.
Posted by ~SEA~ on 3/11/98
Dear Terri,
This is coming to you late so I do hope you see it. We have
been using the Accelerated Reading program for many years at
our school and last year began Reading Renaissance. My
feelings are mixed.
The plus side is that kids are reading more books
independently. [I currently have a 2nd grader who has
already accumulated over 187 points!] And, at our school,
they enjoy the "store" and other privileges points can earn.
[I have mixed feelings about that, too.]
The down side is that many children only want to check out
Acc. Reading books and miss a lot of good literature. Also,
some do not handle the pressure very well [of trying to reach
required points in RR]. Of the latter, some teachers don't
either. I've also found many of the test questions to be of
very poor quality, based on trivial details too silly to
remember.
A final worry is that currently at our school, along with our
extremely structured phonics program, some teachers use Acc.
Reading as their only other reading program. Some feel that
there's no time (or need) anymore to do guided reading.
So, I would recommend the program be monitored carefully. If
used as an "independent" reading activity, you can devise
your own "expectations" based on your students' ability...
rather than the company model. (I also use a parent
volunteer to record my points and keep my charts current.)
Good luck,
~SEA~
PS - You can also devise your own test questions (of better
quality) and make your own computer test.
Posted by Excited on 3/14/98
If children check any book at all, be it an Accelerated Reader
or any other, and are attracted at the store level by snakes or
toys. Let It Be, it motivates them, and it instills a competive
edge to be tops in points.
Let them read no matter how they read, by the carrot or
otherwise. Let reading succeed
Posted by Inspire reading anyway you can! on 3/14/98
If you have to supply prizes of rubber snakes or paper back
books, do so , anything to get those kids to enjoy reading!
Have your PTA supply $200 in toys and books per year and have
a parent volunteer once per month at lunch time to offer store
opening, they will love this! L
Posted by SLWAIK FROM 7 TH GRADE SCHOOL, borkowski@ameritech.net, on 3/24/98
I am also using the a r but my kids can not get to seem to pass
do you have a program with the answers or can you tell me where
to get them
Posted by Lisa, schulerlm@bvu.edu, on 3/31/98
I'm an elementary education major that is about ready to get
out there and take on my own classroom. However, when I was
doing research on a program called Reading Renaissance, I was
having trouble finding information.
I really want to know about the best reading programs
available. If you have any information to share concerning the
Reading Renaissance program, please post it. I'll be checking
back regularly to find out what current educators have to say
about it.
Thanks,
Lisa
Posted by Shelley, shelleyjohn@webzone.net, on 3/02/98
I use the Acc. Reader in my classroom and coordinate the whole
program in our school. It has been extremely successful. We
use a variety of contests and motivators for those who
participate. Today, is the drawing for prizes donated by the
community for those students who had earned 5pts. in the month
of Feb. I would be glad to help you in anyway I can. What
problems are you having with it?
Shelley
Posted by kathy, vaughnk@idir.net, on 3/02/98
I started using AR last year with my class. I looped with the
same kids to 5th and I really like it. I have a little store
that students use points to buy prizes from. The prizes have
been donated by the parents or just little items I picked up
at clearance sales. (pencils, jewlrey, etc.) I want to start a
whole school store but can't seem to find anyone to help me
with it.
What do you do with the points?
Posted by Cy 4/IN, wildcats@psci.net, on 3/02/98
Terri, I am also coordinating our school (grades 2 - 5) in Acc. Reading. We do not have Reading Renaissance. Every week, we give a large paper blue ribbon
to the top classroom in each grade. Then a trophy is awarded to the top classroom overall and a trophy to the most imporved classroom. I also announce the
top ten students of the week. We set a goal at the beginning of each semester and usually reach it by the end of the semester. We give the students another
recess and/or a treat paid by the PTO. When the students reach 25 pts, the teachers send him/her to my room and I take their picture (with the school
polaroid camera) and a volunteer parent hangs them in the hallway. This years theme is "Let's Rock and Roll with Reading" . The hallway is decorated with
musical instruments, notes, records (insides of old computer disks), etc. Records are numbered 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc. up to 400. Students are given a paper
marker to record their progress each week. We also keep track in each classroom of the comprehension scores. The students sign a slip of paper after
receiving 90% or better on a test. At the end of each month 5 names per classroom are drawn out for free treats from local restaurants. We also draw one
name each month per classroom for a free pizza. If you want any more ideas, let me know. I put alot of work into it, but I feel it pays off.
Posted by Barbra, LagunaFootball@worldnet.att.net, on 3/03/98
Hi Terri,
Our school was told that we should look into an accelerated reading program. Where can I get info on it, and what exactly is it? Many schools have said it's an
excellent program and that it is very successful. If you can help please let me know. Thanks, Barbra
Posted by Dixie, dparsons@choice.net, on 3/04/98
We have been using Accelerated Reader for about two years. It
is used by all language arts teachers in the building. Since we
require a certain amount of outside reading of novels for their
grade, we use it as a conferencing tool. Last year I just used
it as an aid to cut down on reading conferences. This year I
require a certain number of points per quarter. The kids like
it. We have a database of about 2400 books so they have a wide
number of choices. I still don't understand how it improves
thier reading levels, but am willing to learn. The people at
Advantage Learning are really great and extremely helpful. They
have a website and are easy to get hold of by phone. Good luck
with your program.
Dixie
Posted by Emmy Ellis, lge@brightok.net, on 3/06/98
The Accelerated Reading Program is part of Advantage Learning
Systems, Inc. PO Box 8036 Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8036.
E-mail is answers@advlearn.com
Posted by Fran Sylvester, Fransyl4, on 3/10/98
My co-teachers and I have used AR for 4 years and we love it. Our students are reading more and more. We require 25 points per nine weeks and it is half of
their reading grade. They are required 100 by the end of the year and have chances to win many different prizes at the end of the year.
Posted by Shelley, shelleyjohn@webzone.net, on 3/12/98
Fran: I too require my students to earn a certain amount of points per nine weeks. What grade do you teach. I am meeting with a parent tomorrow that feels
my expectations are to high for points. It is 10 pts. for the last two nine weeks. I coordinate the AR at my school site and maybe we could swap ideas! It has
been a tremendous success at our school.
shelleyjohn@webzone.net
Posted by SusanRCT/4th/OK on 3/28/98
We had an auction yesterday and the kids were just hilarious! They paid more for stuff at the auction than they do in my classroom when they spend their
Scholar Dollars( earned with grades and positive behavior). I think 25 points a nine weeks is not too much to ask. If they are reading novels with 150+ pages
and are 4th grade level or higher most of those are 5 or more points. We started AR in January and one of mine has 50 points, several are on the 40 level, and
many have 30-35. One 6th grader has over 80. It's not hard if they would read for understanding and know what they will be tested on. I do not use AR for
my reading program, it is just an incentive to read. Many are reading more because they can get something materialistic from it.
Posted by D. Francisco, Rayday66@aol.com, on 3/30/98
To anyone interested in knowing how many points to expect students to accumulate in a 9 week period there is a book published by Advantage Learning that
gives you a chart that is based on the individual child's reading level. It tells you if the child is reading on level 4.2 then he should accumulate a certain number
of points annually and for each grading period. You may need the Reading Renaissance and/or STAR programs to use this information, but it is well worth
looking into. Our school uses all 3 programs (AR,Reading Renaissance and STAR). The children are doing great. I can't say enough about this reading
program.
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