Our principal has come to understand that AR levels books according to vocabulary
and not necessarily interest or maturity level. (ie Just because the Grapes of
Wrath is leveled a 4.9 doesn't mean that it is appropriate for a fourth grader).
Here's the background: I've had AG (academically gifted) teachers demanding their
students read books on a 7th grade and above level; as many of you know, there
simply is not that much fiction on that level that is necessarily appropriate for
middle school students. ( I also found it very interesting that Nicholas Sparks
and Dan Brown's popular books for adults run in the 5th-6th grade levels! )
Anyway, after being instructed to spend my budget on high level stuff, I explained
to him that AR levels are based solely on vocabulary, not maturity or interest, and
the difficulty finding higher level stuff that was still appropriate. I also gave
him the Grapes of Wrath example which blew his mind!
Now today, I find out that I am needed in a meeting at 12:00 where we are to
completely revamp the way that we do AR. Among the things that I know have been
mentioned are to drop the requirement of AR, change the name to Book Points (a rose
by any other name is still a rose), focus more on book reports and summaries, etc.
We're not looking for another system like Reading Counts, just a way to fix what we
have now.
My question to put out to the collective experiences of the group is this: Have
any of you gone through a similar overhaul of the system like this? What have you
done to acknowledge the weaknesses of AR's leveling system? Anything else that you
can offer would be greatly appreciated. I am expected to have a lot of input in
this meeting at noon today and with the short notice, I thought I would tap into
the fantastic knowledge base that is out there!
Brandy Huffman
Media Coordinator
Walter Johnson Middle School
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 430-4737
bshuffman@burke.k12.nc.us
"It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities."
Professor Dumbledore to Harry Potter J.K. Rowling From Harry Potter & the
Chamber of Secrets
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