Transcript Accelerated Reader

Accelerated Reader
Metter Intermediate/Middle School
By: Carla Gregory
Role of the Library Media Specialist
•Organizes and shelves books
•Purchases AR books
•Purchases test for books
•Creates tests on books
Arrangement of Books
•Books are still shelved based on Dewey Decimal Number (nonfiction) and authors’ last name (fiction)
•All AR books have a colored dot on them based on the book
level.
•Red: 1.0-1.9
•Blue: 2.0-2.9
•Yellow: 3.0-3.9
•Purple: 4.0-4.9
•Orange: 5.0-5.9
•Green: 6.0-6.9
•White: 7.0-7.9
•Black: 8.0-8.9
•Brown: 9.0 and higher
Policies
• Students must choose AR books based on
their STAR reading level
• Students are not allowed to read below their
level
• Students can read above their level with
teacher permission only
• Students may not check out a new book until
they have taken the AR test
Incentives
• Once students earn 5 points, a picture of
them is taken. Their heads are printed
and put on popsicle sticks and placed on
a bulletin board.
• The popsicle stick is moved up for these
point intervals: 10, 25, 35, 50, 75, 100,
100+
• As students reach a milestone, names
are read over the announcements
More Incentives
• When students reach 10 points, they receive a certificate
• When students reach 25 points, they receive a free homework
pass from their reading teacher
• When students reach 35 points, they are rewarded with ice
cream sandwiches
• When students reach 50 points, they are given their first
reading dog tag
• When students reach 75 points, they are given another dog
tag
• When many students reach 100 points, they are given a pizza
party
• Students who have over 100 points are taken off campus for
an activity (park, movies, bowling, etc.)
Reactions: Media Specialist
The media specialist does not like
Accelerated Reader because she feels it limits
students choices of reading material. They
only want to read books that are AR. Also,
many times students will not ask if they can
read books above their level so she does not
think they are challenged enough. She feels
that the money spent on AR tests could be
better spent buying more books.
Reactions: Students
Many students like AR because of
all the incentives they receive.
Others do not like it because reading
is no longer for fun, but more like
work because they always have to
take a test. Also, there are books
they want to read, but do not
because they are not AR.
Reactions: Teachers
Some teachers love AR and think it is a
great way to see if students are actually
reading the books. However, most teachers
think the administrative duties of AR take too
much time. They also think that the tests are
too easy and do not ask many critical
thinking questions. Still others think that the
STAR reading test, which is where students
are given an AR level, is not a valid
determination of the students reading level.
Reactions: Principal
The current principal does not like
Accelerated Reader. However, because
she does not have an alternative she is
reluctant to give up the program. She
thinks that it limits a student’s creativity
since they cannot choose any book they
want to read. She also feels that preparing
a book report would be a better
assessment of whether the student read
the book. AR does not determine whether
the child can identify all the narrative
elements of the text. It also does not
allow them to develop a deeper
understanding or compare it to other
literature or real-life experiences.
Suggested Changes
Based on the reactions of both students,
teachers, and administrators, AR is not wellreceived by this school. Therefore, I would
probably stop using the program. However, if
they decided to continue the program, I
would suggest they allow students to read
other books and not put as much emphasis
on the STAR test or on taking AR tests.