[LM_NET] AR problems

[Walt & Sharon Koontz <koontzw@SBCGLOBAL.NET>]

I am a K-12 librarian... have two libraries, one  is elem. up to 6th grade, the 
other JH (7th) through HS.  I have a set of about 20 'jumpstarter' books in the 
JH/hs library that are only worth a point or two and can easily be read in a class 
period.  They are relatively low level,  probably average 5.0.   There is generally 
a cycle among the students (nearly always boys) where they want to read those books 
exclusively.  I don't really 'like' it, BUT once the book is read and test taken, 
they can never do it again. SO they can only gain 20 to 40 points from the whole 
batch!  Most students' goals are from 75 to 200 points.  I will point out that it 
would be best to start out a grading period reading books worth more points and 
then, if desperate, use the jumpstarters to meet the goal.  Some kids understand 
and follow the logic, some learn slowly. 
 
I just consider it a way of teaching a little math, logic, organization and time 
management in addition to being a 'pusher 'of books.  

In the elementary, we expect the students to read within their ZPD with the 
exception of books on the state book lists.  For some reason I don't have much 
problem there, although over the period of 20 years I have been a librarian and 
especially over the 50 years since I was an elem. student, I have seen the reading 
levels of the most popular books go down.  I read Little Women, Treasure Island, 
etc as a third grader! (and I wasn't unusually bright!) 

I think one reason may be that there are soooooo many more children's & YA books 
available with tempting covers that are more appealing to kids than the higher 
level books....

I personally think we should put more of the responsibility of education on the 
shoulders of the student's we are trying to educate!   Kinda goes against the 'no 
child left behind' philosophy, doesn't it?   I've had a frustrating week myself !


----Original Message-----
From: Melissa Moore <mmoore@PI-ISD.NET>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU=20
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:52:24 -0600
Subject: [LM_NET] AR [Scanned]


I need your opinion! I am incensed at the moment because of Accelerated
Reader testing.  Today is the cut-off day for the six weeks, and I have
found several 7th graders in here reading and taking tests on 1 and 2
point books.  What do you think? Should I completely remove the books
and tests? Should I calm down and allow this? I want to just take them
off the shelves now but realize the lower-level kids could benefit from
them.  Please help calm me down!
 
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#**#*#*#*#*#*#
Sharon Koontz, K-12 LMS 
USD 286
Sedan KS 
 
"I'm not organizationally-challenged, I'm chaotically-gifted!"--unknown
............................................................................
If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe
with fur. -Doug Larson, Olympic Gold Medalist (1902-1981)
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

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