[LM_NET] HIT: Discontinuing AR

[Angelique Wylie <AngWylie@SPSK12.NET>]

I received a handful of thoughts on AR, some with alternative programs used and 
some with not 
program as a replacement.  It seemed like there were more people anti-AR, but those 
schools also
 seemed to have lower circulations than before.  I will keep the group informed if 
I hear any more 
pertinent information, but here is what I have gotten so far.  I hope this helps 
some of you!
 
Responses:  

 

About 6 years ago, the entire faculty was required to attend a 2-day AR workshop. 
Administration

 was pushing AR and I spent a lot of time putting colored dots on the library books 
like the trainers 

told us to do. I have always had mixed feelings about AR, both as a parent and an 
educator. I think 

if it is done correctly it can be good for some students. However, teachers seldom 
have the time to 

do it correctly and it is often misused. This year we completely dropped AR (I was 
not involved in 

the decision). We are doing Literacy First now. I have noticed that fewer books are 
circulating and 

more students, especially the fifth graders, are not checking out books at all. 
Teachers no longer keep 

a collection of 20-30 library books in their rooms. And the PTA stopped their usual 
$2000 donation 

to the library because we don't need to buy AR books any more.

 

Our school has over 5,000 tests.  My  principal and I decided that the library 
would not buy anymore tests. If classroom teachers want to use their classroom 
money they may do so.

Since that decision was made (2 years ago) teachers have purchased about 100 tests 
which I download onto the server for the whole school to use.  By being passive 
about the program and not training new teachers to use it, I believe AR will 
eventually run its course.

 

Recommend reading Stephen Krashen's scholarly materials.  Famous reading expert who 
denounces AR jazz.

 The power of reading : insights from the research

   Krashen, Stephen D.  2004.

 

Another reading expert is Michael Sullivan

Connecting boys with books : what libraries can do 

  Sullivan, Michael, 1967 Aug. 30-

 

When I began my position here as media spec., AR was in full force.  Supported 
mostly by the 6th grade teachers.  The administrator was not a supporter, neither 
were some new Communication Arts teachers.  It was dying a slow death with only the 
6th grade teachers fighting for the cause.  I despise the program and did not see 
any positives to it.

 

I haven't bought an AR test in four years and haven't placed an AR sticker on a 
book in as many years either.  Some teachers still have the program on their 
computers but I don't do Tech support for them anymore.  I have the support of the 
administration (my husband the K-12 Instructional Supervisor) who saw the program 
as one that made children hate to read.  None of the
librarians in our system like AR.  I do a program in my library called Dive into 
Reading, formerly called Camp Read-a-lot.  Depending on the grade level students 
read a certain number of books, parents sign off on it and they get a party at the 
end of the year.  Each year I have more and more
participation.

 

Several years ago we decided to implement Reading Counts. At that time
the plan was for it to start at the elementary and move up. Eventually
it got to include 9th and 10th grades. After only a couple of years at
the HS level, though, it started being ignored. HS no longer does
anything with RC, and I don't think 7th and 8th do much with it anymore.
5th and 6th still do, but I wonder how much longer they will.
      I'm still paying Follett to mark my books for RC, and when I get a new
batch of books I give a copy of the list to the elementary librarian,
who is the one who takes care of getting quizzes.
      As for what has taken the place of RC, the answer is nothing.  We just
finished MS testing, and they were all required to have a book to read.
HS testing is next week, so I'll probably see a bit of extra traffic in
the mornings, but otherwise the readers read, and the rest don't.

 

At our JH, we rarely use AR.  I only have one teacher left who uses it.  We were 
never mandated to use it at the JH, but we were the first building to use it in our 
district (before I was at the JH.)  The previous librarian promoted it and used it 
with his reading class he taught.  Many of the English teachers used it for awhile, 
but none of those use it now.  The only one who uses it came to us from one of our 
elementary schools where they have to use it.

 I am so glad not to use it.  It was a money pit.  We no longer do STAR testing, 
either.  We do MAPS testing which gives lexile levels.  I've lexiled all the books 
in my collection that have lexiles attached to them.  Students look for books by 
their lexiles (if they need to find one in their reading range.)

 

We have used AR for many years. I have heard all the same arguments over
the years by parents who dislike the program. I used it when I taught
reading to 7th and 8th graders, and I use it now as a librarian. I can
only sing its praises. Students who were nonreaders before using the
program are now avid readers. I know this is not the case in all
situations, but I have seen more successes than failures. Yes, I have
parents who hate it and claim that it has made their kid hate to read. I
don't, and never will, buy that argument. Yes, we have students who know
how to cheat and beat the system every six weeks. These are the same
students whose parents don't support the school in much of anything,
much less a reading program. I think its biggest selling point is the
fact that the student must read because the points are part of their
grade. Therefore, they come to the library frequently and are
knowledgeable about the books they like and the authors they enjoy. They
are not afraid to come in and ask to be put on hold for items. This is
true for boys as well as girls. I don't think the majority of students
would ever visit the library if they did not have to.
I could go on and on, but I will stop now.

 

I'm brand new to this list as of an hour ago, but have to jump in here.  We have AR 
and are expected to maintain it, yet all budget has been taken away from the 
program and no reward system (other than what I can afford out of library fund) is 
in place.  They are trying to "kill the machine" and are replacing it next year 
with RTI (leveled books).  I'm frustrated to see them throw away a program that was 
sick but only because there were so many inconsistencies with administration of 
program, and not because the program was lacking. 

 

 

 
Angelique Wylie, LMS
John  Yeates Middle School, Suffolk, VA
angwylie@spsk12.net

   

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------