Ar

[glynnis]

I'm just wondering how many of you use AR in your class/school. My school uses it, but we got a new librarian this year and she is against us using it. I still use it in my 1st grade room, as my students are ready. Most of our teachers still use it. I feel like it gives students an incentive for reading. What are your feelings on AR?

[Unregistered]

How about telling us what AR means? Active reading? Applied reading?

[Be Just]

Why is the librarian against it?

[glynnis]

Our librarian does not like the way some teachers use it. I agree with her there. She also does not like the way it is emphasized. I think the emphasis helps students want to read. Once the want is there, they will take it and expand on it.

AR is Accellerated Reader (Students read books and take a computerized test on them. Books are labeled with color coded dots which correspond to the level of the book.)

[Mildred]

Our librarian does not like the way some teachers use it. I agree with her there. She also does not like the way it is emphasized. I think the emphasis helps students want to read. Once the want is there, they will take it and expand on it.

I'm sorry, but its still not clear to me why the librarian is against AR. What about the "emphasis" does she disagree with? I ask because I wonder whether she is being quite candid about her reasons and her explanations seem hazy. I can tell you that the color coding is a work load for the librarian. Could that be the reason she objects? Support staff rarely come out and say they don't want to do the work, though that is often the motive.

By the way, please check out my question about SSR in the Middle School section and give me your opinion.

[glynnis]

We get the vague answers when the issue comes up in meetings and in conversations. All of our books are already marked. I know as we get new books and tests they have to be marked. I have not heard her complain about the work. We have lots of parent volunteers that help her on a regular basis. I guess most of the teachers still use AR since there is not really a good "answer" as to why not to use it.