Re: To Sheila

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Sounds like your school staff needs to keep you in the loop if
they want a successful Reading program. 9 times out of 10 that is
the issue and yourself as a teacher are not given the tools you
need nor the communication you need to be successful.

As for the watch a movie, take a test, I read somewhere that the
AR company actually will re-write quizzes once a movie comes out
so that students whom watch the movie cannot pass the test.

On 10/31/09, The RIGHT Carolyn wrote:
> I don't "HATE" it, I just don't see how it improves reading
> comprehension or motivation.
>
> Ironically, I just received an email from a parent upset with me
> over the AR report her child is getting. As a result of her
> student not "understanding" he was supposed to do AR this past
> quarter, he received a "not meeting goals" on his report card.
>
> Now, I READILY admit I did NOT tell him he was to be doing AR. I
> assumed he already knew what it was. See, that's the problem I am
> having. The person who is compiling the data and basically
> running the system did not inform me that I was actually "in
> charge" of the students reaching their goals. Hence, a new
> student to the school who didn't know a darn thing about AR went
> the entire quarter clueless about it (as was I)
>
> That's the reason why I do not like the way this system is set
> up. We are reading a novel in class and the students are fully
> comprehending this novel. THAT is more accurate of a
> comprehension measurement to me, as a teacher, than a software
> program with 22 questions in it. I don't understand how a student
> who gets an A from me in regards to the standard "demonstrates
> literal comprehension" in MY class, can fail that on an AR test.
> Does this make sense?
>
> I also had a student who took NUMEROUS AR tests, and failed MOST
> of them. So, she's not comprehending them either. Is it MY fault
> she's not comprehending books she's read independently? No, it is
> not. Is it my job to analyze the data and "fix" this problem?
> Yes, it is. Is that fair? No, it is not.
>
> I have been given NO guidance, except for my co teacher who went
> over the reports with me, on AR this past Friday. I have tried
> numerous times to access the information, but cannot even sign on
> to the system. Yet, I am being expected to monitor this and fix
> issues on books I haven't read myself? THAT is my overall issue I
> have with this.
>
> By the way, the parent told me that her child told her that a lot
> of the kids in my school are going to see the movie versions of
> the book, then taking AR tests for points. Since I consider this
> cheating, I consider this evidence that AR is not an accurate way
> to measure reading achievement. I can safely bet that many, many
> students across the country are doing that very same thing --
> cheating by seeing the movie just for the sake of wracking up
> their point totals.
>
> Just my thoughts.
>
> On 9/28/09, Deb ms/IA wrote:
>> This was addressed to Carolyn it wasn't from Carolyn.
>> Carolyn has torn apart AR since her first post. Her school
>> is implementing AR incorrectly and Carolyn hates AR with a
>> passion and states that quiet often on this board. Instead
>> of making changes and using AR properly she just complains.
>> Sorry for the confusion on your part. It was meant to
>> address Carolyn and the fact I don't get all her whining.
>>
>> Deb ms/IA
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 9/26/09, I don't get you Carolyn wrote:
>>>>> 60 percent on any work isn't passing work in some
>>>>> grading scales. It doesn't matter if its a book
>>>>> talk on a book or any type of project on a book 60
>>>>> percent isn't that great.
>>>>>
>>>>> Your ignorance/intolerance/anger with AR is
>>>>> showing. AR is not all about numbers nor is it
>>>>> about punishing kids. Please, you and your school
>>>>> need training on how to properly run AR. When you
>>>>> get that training, implement that training then
>>>>> come back and issue your opinions on AR. Until then
>>>>> stop your whining and complaining. Do something
>>>>> about the problem!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 9/26/09, Carolyn wrote:
>>>>>> I think focusing on points instead of reading
>>>>>> enjoyment and comprehension is the wrong way to
>>>>>> look at learning. That makes it all about a
>>>>>> number to obtain, not the material from the book.
>>>>>> Kids at my school get punished for not making
>>>>>> their goals. This is not a motivating factor,
>>>>>> it's a punitive fear of failure.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I still don't get the whole point of AR. A book
>>>>>> is better understood by talking about it, not by
>>>>>> taking multiple choice tests. Ugh.
>>>
>>
>>
 

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