A.R. Reading Program

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Second Grade Teachers Chatboard

A.R. Reading Program

by Frustrated

Jun 30, 2014

Anyone else forced to do A.R. at their school and hate it? The powers above set point goals for each quarter and make it a BIG contest to accumulate the most points to earn prizes. They could care less what the students test average (comprehension level) is as long as they are reading. Am I the only educator who would rather students comprehension level be a higher priority than their point level? It is also not a fair program for students with a reading/comprehension issue, even if the program will read the test to you.

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Judy2/CA I just retired this past year. My school leveled all kids for our ELA block. My students were the most beginning readers and were almost all ELLs. When the principal started AR school wide I wasn't happy. I remember my own daughter, an avid reader, hating the program when she was in elementary school. There were overall "big" prizes for the kids wh...See MoreI just retired this past year. My school leveled all kids for our ELA block. My students were the most beginning readers and were almost all ELLs. When the principal started AR school wide I wasn't happy. I remember my own daughter, an avid reader, hating the program when she was in elementary school. There were overall "big" prizes for the kids who racked up the most points. But each reading class also had prizes so even my kids could be prize winners. A couple of years ago the principal changed it somewhat. Every time a student passed an AR test they were given a ticket. They put their name/room number on the ticket and put it in a container in the cafeteria when they were there for breakfast or lunch. On Fridays the principal pulled tickets from each lunch group and small prizes were given - books, bookmarks, pencils, etc. This was a big deal for the primary kids and they loved it. For my kids, the ticket itself became the prize. My group went to computer lab every day to work with an online reading program but on Friday we used the time to take AR tests. Everyone brought their AR books (most had 3-4) and took their tests. I let mine use their books - I wanted them to know that reading is looking for information/answers in books. Every time someone passed their test they were given a ticket and the group cheered. Everyone kept their AR books on their desks and when they had a minute their nose was in a book. Although I wasn't initially a fan of AR, my kids were and that was the important part. They felt successful and were eager to open a book and read. They also like taking the tests on the computer. Maybe "better" readers aren't as interested in the program but mine were.

On 6/30/14, Frustrated wrote: > Anyone else forced to do A.R. at their school and hate it? > The powers above set point goals for each quarter and make > it a BIG contest to accumulate the most points to earn > prizes. They could care less what the students test > average (comprehension level) is as long as they are > reading. Am I the only educator who would rather students > comprehension level be a higher priority than their point > level? It is also not a fair program for students with a > reading/comprehension issue, even if the program will read > the test to you.

Jul 7, 2014

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Leanne/CA We use it, however the student's reading level is considered when determining the number of points they need to reach. IMHO, the children who are not already reading independently are not ready for AR. They need to have the decoding skills first, so they can focus on comprehension. I would rather they learn to read to enjoy it instead of focusing o...See More

Jul 14, 2014

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teach2nd On 7/07/14, Judy2/CA wrote: > I just retired this past year. My school leveled all kids for > our ELA block. My students were the most beginning readers and > were almost all ELLs. When the principal started AR school > wide I wasn't happy. I remember my own daughter, an avid > reader, hating the program when she was in elementary sc...See MoreOn 7/07/14, Judy2/CA wrote: > I just retired this past year. My school leveled all kids for > our ELA block. My students were the most beginning readers and > were almost all ELLs. When the principal started AR school > wide I wasn't happy. I remember my own daughter, an avid > reader, hating the program when she was in elementary school. > There were overall "big" prizes for the kids who racked up the > most points. But each reading class also had prizes so even my > kids could be prize winners. A couple of years ago the > principal changed it somewhat. Every time a student passed an > AR test they were given a ticket. They put their name/room > number on the ticket and put it in a container in the > cafeteria when they were there for breakfast or lunch. On > Fridays the principal pulled tickets from each lunch group and > small prizes were given - books, bookmarks, pencils, etc. This > was a big deal for the primary kids and they loved it. For my > kids, the ticket itself became the prize. My group went to > computer lab every day to work with an online reading program > but on Friday we used the time to take AR tests. Everyone > brought their AR books (most had 3-4) and took their tests. I > let mine use their books - I wanted them to know that reading > is looking for information/answers in books. Every time > someone passed their test they were given a ticket and the > group cheered. Everyone kept their AR books on their desks and > when they had a minute their nose was in a book. Although I > wasn't initially a fan of AR, my kids were and that was the > important part. They felt successful and were eager to open a > book and read. They also like taking the tests on the > computer. Maybe "better" readers aren't as interested in the > program but mine were. > > > On 6/30/14, Frustrated wrote: >> Anyone else forced to do A.R. at their school and hate it? >> The powers above set point goals for each quarter and make >> it a BIG contest to accumulate the most points to earn >> prizes. They could care less what the students test >> average (comprehension level) is as long as they are >> reading. Am I the only educator who would rather students >> comprehension level be a higher priority than their point >> level? It is also not a fair program for students with a >> reading/comprehension issue, even if the program will read >> the test to you.

Aug 24, 2014

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teach2nd I love AR in my classroom. Our students have school wide points and prizes they can earn. I also have my own system in my classroom. I don't do based on points I do it based on if they pass their tests. On my back wall I have fish bowls in increments of 5. Every student has a fish with their name on it. Everyone who passed the first test starts out...See More

Aug 24, 2014

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