Accelerated Reader Grade 3

[Cyn123]

Any moms out there who's Third Grader does the AR reading in class? If so, what point goals does their teacher have monthly for reading?

Cynthia
www.achievingabetterlife.com

[big-mouth-burgher]

My son's school doesn't have a monthly point goal for AR. Every school runs their AR program differently. What our school does is give the kids a ticket for every 10 AR points they earn throughout the school year. In June we have a raffle, where the students get to use their tickets to try to win prizes. Some examples of the prizes are: book store gift card, walmart gift card, board games, movie tickets, etc. The prizes are donated by local businesses or purchased with money donated from local businesses. The more you read, the more chances you have to win a prize.

[moonemaiden]

I'm not familiar with the AR program. My daughter's school does things very differently. My daughter is in 2nd grade and can read with complete comprehension at the 6th grade testing level. Her teachers chose not to test her beyond that because of age appropriateness issues. The students in her class go to the library every other week, and have independent and partner reading daily.

So if the AR program is run differently at different schools, what is the main goal of the program? And how does it differ from a regular reading program in schools?

[big-mouth-burgher]

AR (Accelerated Reader) is a program where students pick books to read and take a computer test on the book once they have completed it. Each book is assigned a point value based on it's reading level. It is used to encourage students to read books besides the ones given in their classroom reading class.

Every school differs in how they use the points awarded to the students. Some schools have a mandatory minimum amount of points each child must achieve every month or else their reading grade is affected. IMO it is like bribeing kids to read.

[moonemaiden]

Thank you for explaining that. My daughter did that in kindergarten but they don't do that in their elementary grades. They just let the kids read wherever they happen to be able to read at. Or in my daughter's case, I help the teacher's pick out a list of books to make available to my daughter based on what I think is appropriate for her. There are a couple others in her class whose parents end up doing the same thing.

I agree with you. It would be great if all kids read for pleasure rather than for prizes. And I've always wondered if more kids would read for their own enjoyment if they were never offered the carrot at the end. The only reason I allow my daughter to participate in Book It! through Pizza Hut is because I know she'll read whether she gets the pizza or not. But I feel that is just bribing kids to read also. Anyway, I'm rambling. Thanks!

[big-mouth-burgher]

My oldest son loves to read and he reads alot. Most of the time, he doesn't even bother to take the computer test on the book - not sure why though.

My youngest is in Kindergarten and they do Book it. We read the books, and he gets the coupon for a free pizza at Pizza Hut, and I throw it away because we never go there. I don't really care for their pizza and they are very expensive IMO.

I wish the school would just let the kids read for the sake of reading.