Does your child's school participate in the Accelerated Reading Progam?

[andyandlexismom]

Does your child participate in the Accelerated Reading Program (A.R.) at school? If so, what are they required to do for reading?

My son (and daughter once she is in second grade) has to earn a certain amt. of points each 9 weeks by reading books that have been awarded a certain pt. level and grade level, and then he has to take a computerized test on the book. The number of questions he gets right determines the points that he gets for that book. (Does that make sense?).

I know that other schools do things differently. I'm wondering what your children have to do for their reading grades?

[Kathy]

DS2 is in the top reading/spelling in his year level, sorry can't help you and I think everything is totally set up differently here.
They had awards and levels to meet but not a computer testing thing at the end.

Isn't really a proud moment to see your kids do well in this, as reading and spelling correctly seem to be a dying thing.

[Crafty Amanda]

Mine is actually in a reading help group after school twice a week. He's actually improved A LOT. They told him today that if he keeps doing as well as he has he won't have to come anymore :) I've noticed a big difference too!

[andyandlexismom]

My son has 3 different books going on at one time, all of the time --they have their A.R. books, a class book that everyone is reading and then their group book, which he is in the highest level, also. I'm all for reading anything that he can get his hands on but I worry that this much reading in school doesn't leave much time for leisure reading. KWIM? He still reads the newspaper everyday but as far as leisure book reading, it's not happening now.

They still have spelling tests and then Andy's group has a higher level definitions word test every other week.

I'm shocked at how much social studies is overlooked in this school. With all of the focus being placed on reading and math, social studies and science gets pushed to the back burner. At least this year in 5th grade, they are doing science experiments--and my son loves doing them! :)

[Janice]

my daughter teaches second grade in a Virginia public school, and her school all participate in the AR program, but it is not their only reading activity. They have regular reading groups, etc., like always, but this is an extra reading activity. Yes, they are also tested on the computer after reading an AR book. They get certain points and after reaching those points, they are rewarded at the end of the semester with a special pool party in the spring and a movie in the winter. . . they are really motivated at that school and their reading grades are very high. I even go many days to read with some of the slower children and help them try to achieve their goals. Each child has a different goal, based on testing they do at the first of the year. I hope your children do well, reading is so very important!

[andyandlexismom]

Hi Janice!

Both of my kids enjoy reading. My 5 yr. old is like a little sponge right now. ;) It amazes me how much she has learned already.

I couldn't agree with your more that reading is so important!

[Crafty Amanda]

Glad to see you here janice :)

All 3 of my boys had trouble with reading. Luckily the schools they went to had reading clubs after school for those not keeping up. My youngest is in it right now and is doing so much better!

[juxie]

Our school uses AR, however, by the time the kids hits 4th grade, the teachers stop using the program and rely on book reports, oral & written, pages and minutes logged and others.

The biggest problem with the AR system is that while my 2nd grade daughter is reading at a 5th grade level, the AR level only takes into consideration the vocabulary and sentence structure and NOT content. Many 5.0+ AR books are inappropriate for her age level and so she is stuck with limited book choices. We also here so many times kids say - well I don't want to read that it isn't enough points or it is the wrong level... this discourages reading for fun.

Our librarian has made a huge effort to teach the kids the five finger rule for fun non-school reading. This is a student should open up a book they want, turn to the middle and read to pages, every time they come to a word they don't know to put up a finger. If all five fingers are out - the book is too hard.

[andyandlexismom]

Our school uses AR, however, by the time the kids hits 4th grade, the teachers stop using the program and rely on book reports, oral & written, pages and minutes logged and others.

The biggest problem with the AR system is that while my 2nd grade daughter is reading at a 5th grade level, the AR level only takes into consideration the vocabulary and sentence structure and NOT content. Many 5.0+ AR books are inappropriate for her age level and so she is stuck with limited book choices. We also here so many times kids say - well I don't want to read that it isn't enough points or it is the wrong level... this discourages reading for fun.

Our librarian has made a huge effort to teach the kids the five finger rule for fun non-school reading. This is a student should open up a book they want, turn to the middle and read to pages, every time they come to a word they don't know to put up a finger. If all five fingers are out - the book is too hard.

I would love to copy what you just said and slap it down in front of the principal in my kids' school!! My son has had the same problem finding books that he was interested in reading because he has always read above his so-called level. I would love for his school to bring on the challenge of book reports, as well as oral and written assignments. The only thing he has in his favor is that he has a young teacher who is very involved with his students. He will allow the kids to read a book and test on it if it's something that they are really interested in it, as long as it falls withing the scale of their reading level. (It doesn't have to be a book that is at least a 5th grade level book).

I will definitely use the 5 finger rule with my daughter. Thanks for sharing that one!