Re: Accelerated Reader

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Accelerated Reader

by MB

Apr 12, 2012

I am wondering if any of you have used this program. If you have used it, how have you used it and how would you describe its' effectiveness? I am wondering if the expense is worth it for us and if it will accomplish our school improvement goals. We are low in several areas in Comm Arts and did not make AYP. Thanks so much.

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KK I have used it, and I can't honestly say it is worth the cost. The reason is that it can be very motivating for some kids, but not for others. For stronger readers, it can be limiting, because once you have the program, you want to require them to take X number of AR quizzes, and that can be frustrating because those students can only choose from b...See MoreI have used it, and I can't honestly say it is worth the cost. The reason is that it can be very motivating for some kids, but not for others. For stronger readers, it can be limiting, because once you have the program, you want to require them to take X number of AR quizzes, and that can be frustrating because those students can only choose from books that were purchased in the bundle.

The program can also be frustrating for struggling readers who rush through quizzes and directions.

For other students, it is a useful tool--they set goals and meet them.

Some classrooms used the AR points (requiring students to earn a given number, for example), and others simply required that students take a certain number of quizzes by the end of the marking period. Their combined quiz scores usually contributed toward part of their independent reading grade. I think really, though, that it teaches more about responsibility and diligence (admirable skills, to be sure) than it does about reading. Good readers read, and they talk about what they read, and they let what they read challenge their thinking. AR requirements don't really support that.

AR is motivational for kids who have competitive spirits, so in that sense, it can encourage some kids to read more, but unless it's carefully structured, it becomes a burden to kids who already love reading and those who are overwhelmed by it.

I did not feel that the quiz scores told me anything I didn't already know about my students' comprehension skills. I think AR's ideal use might be as a center option during literacy block for average and above-average (but not off the charts) readers who are goal-oriented and reasonably independent.

On 4/12/12, MB wrote: > I am wondering if any of you have used this program. If you > have used it, how have you used it and how would you > describe its' effectiveness? I am wondering if the expense > is worth it for us and if it will accomplish our school > improvement goals. We are low in several areas in Comm Arts > and did not make AYP. Thanks so much.

Apr 13, 2012

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Tim I've found AR to be great for gifted children who are motivated to read. They love reading books, taking quizzes, and trying to get as many points as possible. I am a big advocate of Accelerated Reader. I also enjoy writing my own quizzes for reading projects I do. AR grades these quizzes for me, year after year.

On 4/13/12, KK wrote: >...See MoreI've found AR to be great for gifted children who are motivated to read. They love reading books, taking quizzes, and trying to get as many points as possible. I am a big advocate of Accelerated Reader. I also enjoy writing my own quizzes for reading projects I do. AR grades these quizzes for me, year after year.

On 4/13/12, KK wrote: > I have used it, and I can't honestly say it is worth the cost. > The reason is that it can be very motivating for some kids, > but not for others. For stronger readers, it can be limiting, > because once you have the program, you want to require them to > take X number of AR quizzes, and that can be frustrating > because those students can only choose from books that were > purchased in the bundle. > > The program can also be frustrating for struggling readers who > rush through quizzes and directions. > > For other students, it is a useful tool--they set goals and > meet them. > > Some classrooms used the AR points (requiring students to earn > a given number, for example), and others simply required that > students take a certain number of quizzes by the end of the > marking period. Their combined quiz scores usually contributed > toward part of their independent reading grade. I think > really, though, that it teaches more about responsibility and > diligence (admirable skills, to be sure) than it does about > reading. Good readers read, and they talk about what they > read, and they let what they read challenge their thinking. AR > requirements don't really support that. > > AR is motivational for kids who have competitive spirits, so in > that sense, it can encourage some kids to read more, but unless > it's carefully structured, it becomes a burden to kids who > already love reading and those who are overwhelmed by it. > > I did not feel that the quiz scores told me anything I didn't > already know about my students' comprehension skills. I think > AR's ideal use might be as a center option during literacy > block for average and above-average (but not off the charts) > readers who are goal-oriented and reasonably independent. > > On 4/12/12, MB wrote: >> I am wondering if any of you have used this program. If you >> have used it, how have you used it and how would you >> describe its' effectiveness? I am wondering if the expense >> is worth it for us and if it will accomplish our school >> improvement goals. We are low in several areas in Comm Arts >> and did not make AYP. Thanks so much.

May 1, 2012

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txteacher385 As a parent, I saw my daughter, a voracious reader, start to hate reading because she HAD to... Books she had read as a younger child she had to re-read again just to get points. The questioning is very basic and not at all at the depth a reading teacher needs their students to be at these days. As a reading teacher, I prefer to see my students syn...See More

Jun 17, 2012

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Debbie On 5/01/12, Tim wrote: > I've found AR to be great for gifted children who are motivated to > read. They love reading books, taking quizzes, and trying to get > as many points as possible. I am a big advocate of Accelerated > Reader. I also enjoy writing my own quizzes for reading projects > I do. AR grades these quizzes for me, year...See MoreOn 5/01/12, Tim wrote: > I've found AR to be great for gifted children who are motivated to > read. They love reading books, taking quizzes, and trying to get > as many points as possible. I am a big advocate of Accelerated > Reader. I also enjoy writing my own quizzes for reading projects > I do. AR grades these quizzes for me, year after year. > > On 4/13/12, KK wrote: >> I have used it, and I can't honestly say it is worth the cost. >> The reason is that it can be very motivating for some kids, >> but not for others. For stronger readers, it can be limiting, >> because once you have the program, you want to require them to >> take X number of AR quizzes, and that can be frustrating >> because those students can only choose from books that were >> purchased in the bundle. >> >> The program can also be frustrating for struggling readers who >> rush through quizzes and directions. >> >> For other students, it is a useful tool--they set goals and >> meet them. >> >> Some classrooms used the AR points (requiring students to earn >> a given number, for example), and others simply required that >> students take a certain number of quizzes by the end of the >> marking period. Their combined quiz scores usually contributed >> toward part of their independent reading grade. I think >> really, though, that it teaches more about responsibility and >> diligence (admirable skills, to be sure) than it does about >> reading. Good readers read, and they talk about what they >> read, and they let what they read challenge their thinking. AR >> requirements don't really support that. >> >> AR is motivational for kids who have competitive spirits, so in >> that sense, it can encourage some kids to read more, but unless >> it's carefully structured, it becomes a burden to kids who >> already love reading and those who are overwhelmed by it. >> >> I did not feel that the quiz scores told me anything I didn't >> already know about my students' comprehension skills. I think >> AR's ideal use might be as a center option during literacy >> block for average and above-average (but not off the charts) >> readers who are goal-oriented and reasonably independent. >> >> On 4/12/12, MB wrote: >>> I am wondering if any of you have used this program. If you >>> have used it, how have you used it and how would you >>> describe its' effectiveness? I am wondering if the expense >>> is worth it for us and if it will accomplish our school >>> improvement goals. We are low in several areas in Comm Arts >>> and did not make AYP. Thanks so much. I have been in two schools for the past 16 years that use A/R; one elementary & currently middle school.

At our middle school, students can only take A/r tests with their reading teacher and the teachers are responsible for monitoring this. Another thing that has cut down on other students taking tests for others is that only the teacher knows the code. Yes, it's a pain but it works. When some student figures it out, our media specialist will change it.

Without the requirement of A/R, may middle school students wouldn't read anything! Our district has internet based A/R so practically all books have tests. Schools within our district used to have to purchase the tests but now that we have web based tests, that isn't necessary anymore.

We have quarterly rewards for those who reach 100 points per quarter and since we are a dress code school, those who reach their A/R goal receives a T-shirt that they can wear on Mondays, untucked (it's a big deal to them).

Yes, it has its bad points but I think the benefits outweight the negative aspects.

Jul 13, 2012

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Jme Txteacher369, I think the problem with your daughter's experience was the teacher, not AR. She should not have to re-read books for AR points, and the AR tests should not be a substitute for other reading activities and assessments. And as for cheating, we (the teachers at my school) type in a password before the student takes each test and after h...See More

Aug 5, 2012

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