Does anyone know about the Accelerated Reader program???

[mum4jenn]

DD was tested for the gifted program this week and is the only child in her class to be in the accelerated reader program(she is in Kindergarten(6 yr old). Does anyone know what will be expected. Don't they need to read during the summer also?? She will go to the school library for the first time on this Friday.

 

[piglet too]

If this is the same as what was at my son's school here is what it is. They read a book at whatever grade level they are supposed to read from and then go take a test on it. They get so many points for how well they do on it. It is real nice as it teaches them to really read the story not just read it if that makes any sense what-so-ever

 

[RitaZ.]

If it's the same AR program that my kids do here, they choose a book according to reading level and then take a test on the computer. You get a print-out with overall averages with each report card including the title of each book read and its reading level, the amount of questions per test attempted and points earned, etc. We also get a print-out with stats for every test taken. It teaches them about reading comprehension, not just being able to read words. I think it's a good program. There are K students at DD's school that are already participating in this program.

 

[JoGloMorKat]

My daughter has that program as well. She has not done so well on some of the tests as she was testing well above her grade level (she tested on Little Women and she's in 3rd grade loved the book just didn't remember enough answers to get points).

They have to get a minimum number of questions right (7 I think) to get any points at all and the easier the book the lower the point multiplier.

Our school gives awards as the kids pass certain point totals.

If your DD was selected into the program, chances are she is like my daughter and you'll have to pry the books from her fingers to get them to do something else (like sleep). We still catch her occasionally in the middle of the night under her covers with a flashlight reading.

Good luck with the program and just let her read what she wants. The program will work itself out.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

My parents and I hated this program. You got a certain list of books, all with a set number of points you can earn. I would go to my library, after reasearching and finding a book I was *really* interested in, and then find it's not on the list. You'd have to read the book in addition to your AR books. And earning points was annoying. You have to figure out what books will get you where you need to be, point-wise, and if you answer a couple incorrect questions, you have to get another book (and let me tell you, beware on some of the questions. They can be about itty-bitty details that you normally wouldn't remember, yet you had still REALLY read the book). I was glad this was ditched by the time I was in middle school. I could finally read the books I was interested in. But by then, I hated reading. AR made me loathe the "chore" called reading. Still, to this day, this once active reader can't get herself into reading thanks to AR.

And that was all 5 years ago.

I miss what my old elementary school did (before I moved, to a school with AR). We just kept track with the number of pages read, and award kids on reading more.

I still shudder though, being in 5th grade and suffering through Johnny Tremain just to get 16 points.

 

[ValerieK]

At DS's school the kids just take a test when they finish reading the book. We don't get a read out or anything. They even don't have to do it, or read a book from the list. If the book is on the list they just complete the test. Every month a the class in each grade level with the most AR points gets a banner outside their room. At the end of the year the top kids in points in each class get a special bookmark and the top 5 kids get a certificate. My Ds likes it. He usually does very well. So far this year he has 236.4 points (Yes he is that percise) The kid with the most points has about 330. It is like a competion between 4 kids in the class. It is funny listening to my son talk about it.

 

[asta]

My childrens' school have used this program for about 6 years. It worked great with one daughter, the other one hated it. I think it depends on the child and how skilled the teacher is in administering the program. In addition to guiding children to books appropiate to their vocabulary, it also has great tools that teachers can use to motivate children to read more challenging books. I do think it tends to become less helpful as they become better readers (about grade 4 or 5). You can check out their website www.renlearn.com for more details. Accelerated Reader is a product of Renaissance Learning, and I think they also have a math program that works like the reading program.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Flame me but I HATE it. And thankfully, DD's teacher this year hates it too! We do not learn to enjoy reading by reading to test! We should be teaching that we read for pleasure. DD is several years ahead in grade level for reading and the books she would have been required to read for this program would have been out of her age interests. The teacher uses another program (they can read ANYTHING and fill out a short form on the book) and the kids scores soar under her! DD's level advanced even more this year without AR! The kids who have to do AR are like robots in the library-just scanning the binders for their grade level.
DS hated reading when he had to do this program. Glad he is past it!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Flame me but I HATE it.

I won't flame you. I don't hate it but I've never been terribly impressed by it. My kids both tended to get their "AR book" done with very quickly and then go hit the stacks for what they really wanted to read. I never cared that much what my kids were reading as long as they were reading. Sometimes they choose under grade level and sometimes they choose over grade level -- it all works out.

I'm curious as to why the rest of the K class doesn't get to go to the library and why they haven't been going all year?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My DD7 is obsessed with getting AR points. She is in 1st grade and has 214 points. We have to make her stop reading at night.

Children get to go to the AR store after getting a certain number of points. After getting 100 points the principal took the kids to Golden Corral for lunch. At 125, the student gets a trophy at Awards Day. Next month, the principal is taking all students with 200 or more points ice skating.

My daughter attends a Magnet Spanish Immersion School. The AR program really gives parents a chance to help their child with reading in English. To be in the school you have to commit to helping your child read every night so that they can read in English. Sometimes she brings home Spanish library books and I can't help her but she does fine on those AR tests.

My daughter's school library is open for 1 1/2 hours everyday in the summer for student's to take AR tests. They can't check out books they have to just read and take tests.

I think it is a good reading incentive program. Congratulations on your daughter's accomplishments.

Lori

 

[Otto's Doll]

We have AR in our school too. The kids are expected to get a certian number of points every month (DD in 3rd grade has to get 10 and DS in 5th grade has to get 15) and it counts toward their reading grade. We have a program where the kids get to shop in the school store if they earn their points (they get "money" based on their points to shop with). They also get additional rewards as their points go up. (Extra recess, an ice cream party, and lunch with the princepal are the twice yearly incentives.)
I don't mind it. It starts in 2nd grade, K and 1 have to list the books read, and get "money" based on that.
Any more questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[RitaZ.]

She will go to the school library for the first time on this Friday.

That's odd. So your DD's class doesn't go to the library (media) as part of the "specials"?

 

[mum4jenn]

Thanks everyone for the answers.

Tobys Friend: I am not sure why they have not been to the library yet this year either. I guess they focus so much on getting the skills they have to learn to make it to 1st grade there just isn't the time for it. BTW...the whole class will get to go to the library but DD will get some help from the teacher in selecting an AR book.

Last summer we checked out around 40-50 books. Dd read the words she knew then and I helped her with the rest. She has had books in her life since before birth and currently has about 200 books in her bookcase at home.She loves books so I hope this will stay with her. I will try to be careful for her to read some other books also so she won't end up hating the program. WOW!! I hope she does well and comes out of it still loving to read.

Right now since she is the only one in the class ready for AR she thinks she is "all that" and she is excited about being on the computer to take a test.

I will have to talk to her teacher some more I guess to find out about her school and their expectations.