I think the AR program is great for the average reader. Our school has AR and offers a small shop at the end of each quarter for students to spend their points. However, as a parents of a struggling reader, it is very depressing to see my son work so hard to finish a book to only be awarded 1 point. For my 2nd grader, a pencil or some other small prize just doesn't equate to his accomplishment. AR just doesn't account for students with learning disabilities or a below grade level reader.
Maybe I just have the wrong idea about reading. I read for fun and entertainment. If I am enjoying a book I whip thru it as fast as I can. I don't see why a book has to be read slow to get a deeper meaning from it. I don't see a problem with a child reading quickly.
And the children who don't get to read the higher point books wouldn't be reading those books even if they weren't under the AR program. From what I can tell the STAR range isn't there to keep kids from reading above their level, it is there to keep kids who don't want to read from reading below their level.
Maybe some schools just don't have enough AR tests to go with the books in the library. I guess our school has plenty of the tests because my daughter hasn't had a problem finding an AR book. But there is a silver lining if there are a limited number AR tests. Children will be forced to read a wide range of material.
Maybe their is a better reading program. What else is out there?
I think it is great that your daughter is the high reader, but like you said the reason she is high is because she can read books that are worth more points. Think about how frustrating that would be for students that are not allowed to read those books because of their reading level. It is easy to gain a high amount of points when getting 9 or 10 for each book, but what about those students that are only getting .5 or 1 point. They are still working just as hard as the high readers yet they are getting less points. Just so you don't think I am a bitter mom, my daughter is also on the 200 pt wall and has the most points of her class. She has not gained anything from the program. In fact she reads books very fast with little higher level thinking unless I have discussions about books with her.
Mommy
My son who is in 4th grade is very high level reader...but the AR tests that are available are for books he's either tested on or is uninterested in. He continues to read books that are not AR but must stop and find books that are AR to get his points. It's only going to be more difficult in the upper grades.
I'm an aide at the school and I see the kids rush through the books to get their points much more than I see kids enjoying books for their content. So as I said, I have very mixed feelings.
No problem IMovepeople. I just saw 3 thumbs down for the AR program and I just wanted to give a thumbs up before someone thought the dislike was universal [img]smile.gif[/img] .
Perhaps that is only the way that the school my kids now attend runs the program - about checking it out from the school library.
And I can't get my kids to stop reading. It's a great problem to have, I must say, I guess I explained it poorly in my last post. My kids read all the time, anything they can get their hands on.
I personally do not like the AR program, guess that's all I needed to say.
