What Should You Discuss?
In this particular blog, I am asking teachers of all educational levels to express your views or opinions on accelerated reader (AR). This is your personal opinion about the pros and cons of using a technological testing program to assess a students understanding of text.
There are some pros and cons to using AR in the school system. I only had to do this program when I was in elementary school, because that was the only time I was in public school. The pros about AR is that it is good for students who like to read and when they take the test you can see how much they remember when they get their scores back. The biggest con though that I see from it is that students will just take the test without reading the book to get the points needed. Or, they will get books from younger grade levels to read and quick and easy points. The only reason I know this is because I was one of those students. Thats why I think it is okay it can go both ways on how good it is and bad it is. So, I just sit in the middle for AR.
ReplyDeleteI am not in the school environment right now and I confess this is the first time I am hearing about AR. For the little research I did, many educators found AR a simple reading for recall and not for comprehension. I believe we need to motivate our students to read and use as many tools as possible in that direction. However, if AR really does not help in comprehension, I would prefer to use other resources.
ReplyDeleteI have heard a lot of complaints about students not even bothering to read the book, then taking the test. It seems to be a contest to me about who can reach their reading goal the quickest. Don't you think that students should read for the enjoyment of it. The more they enjoy it the more they will read, and the more they read the better they will become at reading.
ReplyDeleteI think that ar is really not a topic I am too familiar with. I know that the idea is to give gifted students a chance to advance their reading skills but that is about it. I know that some of the teachers I work with enjoy it and others think it separates the students to much.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to thank everyone for their input and ideas! Feel free to continue to post on my blog!
ReplyDeleteAccelerated Reader can be constructive tool in the classroom, if used appropriately. It motivates the students to read, and gives the teacher as well as the student immediate feedback on their personal goal. I found this website to be helpful, http://www.ehow.com/how_2126183_use-accelerated-reader-classroom.html
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