Re: Is A. R. reading only for school/class time?

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Answers in line....

On 11/12/09, CityTeacher wrote:
> What grade is your child in?
> In my school, AR is INDEPENDENT reading.
AR is independent reading it can be homework depending on the
age. In most middle schools there is very little time to add 60
minutes to the school day just for reading (60 being the ULTIMATE
amount of reading time a child needs per day). The next goal
time is 30 minutes a day, again that is a tough one to do in most
school schedules. AR came up with 20 minutes a day goal and that
might be doable within the school day. So whatever time a
student doesn't get at school he/she can make up at home. Most
classes get a few minutes at the end of their class(es) here and
there.

It is part of
> homework every night. The kids can read in the library and at
> lunch, too, but class time is not for AR reading in my
> school. It could be different in other schools. It is not
> used for a grade, but in my schools, there are rewards for
> kids who meet the monthly goals. LOTS of rewards!

Many schools DO use it as a grade and skip the rewards,
especially now with budget limits for prizes and limits on food
prizes for health policies. Middle school uses the grades more
than the elementary schools. They grade the goal percentage made
and they grade percentage of passing averages of quizzes. Very
simple and very authentic to student ability.

> The reading goals that my school uses are the grade level
> minimums suggested by Renaissance Learning, nothing more. In
> Kindergarten= 7 points per year. 1st grade= 20 points, 2nd
> grade is 30 points, and so on.... (I was told these were
> MINIMUMS set by the company, not us. I could have been told
> incorrect information, but that is what I recall from 7 years
> ago, and no one ever said anything differently.) Special Ed
> students have a different goal. It is based on their reading
> level grade equivalent. (a 4th grader reading on a 2nd grade
> level gets to do the 2nd grade goal) We've had 3 principals
> since I began, and none of them has ever changed the goals or
> the method.

WOW! This is NOT how Ar sets up the goals. Please go to the Ren
Learn or Ren Place program and log in. do a search in the
program for the goal setting chart. It will list the procedure
to set individual goals based on each child's grade equivalent.
There is NO place in AR for goals made for each grade. Each
child needs a goal. This goal can be based on the grade
Equivalent from the STAR Reading test (Another AR product) or a
standardized test score the district already gives (ITBS....).
Then you set the time limit (60, 30, 20 minutes) and you come up
with an individualized goal for EACH child. Very easy to do and
the chart listed on the AR site is very helpful to set these
goals.

Concerned parent why not ask your teacher to see this goal
setting chart from AR and your child's grade equivalent. You can
see the point goal for yourself and come to an agreement with the
teacher.

It is important for students to have individualized goals based
on their abilities. Setting it low doesn't match all students
abilities. adjustments can be made for reluctant below grade
level readers.

This program is to get children reading, setting goals, meeting
goals, monitoring progress, monitoring comprehension, expanding
vocabulary keep a computerized reading log...... Lots for this
program to do if run correctly!

> On 11/08/09, Concerned Parent wrote:
>> Please clear something up for me. Should my elementary
>> aged child have to read for A.R. outside of the classroom?
>> It is not for a grade. I think the teacher has given way
>> too many points as a goal, and I don't think my child
>> should be expected to get 19 points in a school quarter.
>> She would have to do some reading at home to accompish this
>> (I feel) and I don't think that is how the program is
>> supposed to work. Am I wrong? Also, wouldn't it be better
>> to give kids lower points goals so more kids can earn a
>> reward??? Isn't this program about helping kids feel
>> successful?
 

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