AR in the classroom

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Home : 2004 : July : 29

AR in the classroom
By teacherteacher

As a whole, I love the AR Reading Program. It is a great motivator to get students to have a love of books and reading. But it is in all how the teacher approaches AR for it to be effective in the classroom.

At the beginning
of the school year, I STAR test all of my students, and I find that it is a great indicator of where there AR level is. The results of the STAR test are just for me, because I know it isn't always accurate (for example, a student might be in a bad mood or having family
problems).
At my school library, students are allowed to check out 2 library books every week. With this in

mind, I tell students they have to check at an AR book on grade level and then one of their choice. And yes, I do have to modify this. Last year for example, I had 5 very low readers (on
a pre primer to primer level in the fifth grade). So with these five, they were allowed to check out books on their
level.

At the beginning of the year, I allow students to read any level of book they choose. I always have students reading 10 -20 books every week. My philosophy is that as long as the students are reading and comprehending what they are reading and enjoying what they are reading, then I'm
happy. My goal is not to stress my students, it is to get them to realize that books are a wonderful thing.

Now within my Reading block, things are different. Students are reading one book on grade level (don't you just love state testing), because at the end of the year, the Reading test they have to take is on grade level.

What inspires me to be relaxed and enjoy AR is when I see my students Reading and Reading and Reading!!! They have a love and respect for books.

Back to the STAR test: I've found that some students don't want others to know that they are on a lower reading level. When I see a student struggling (AR test scores), then I look at the STAR test results for this student (which, by the way, I do 3 times a year...August, Jan, and
April). I conference with the student, and we decide on lower AR level books. Since each student is different, they might stay on the lower level book for two weeks up to a month or two. I find that this gets the stress off the
student, they are reading for enjoyment, and passing tests at the same time. But they know, they must move up to a higher level eventually, but that now, they have to be on this particular level.

What I like about AR is the growth you will see in your students, and growth is what we really want, isn't it?

In closing, I'd like to say that last year was my best AR year yet. Of my 5 low readers, 5 made progress and 3 passed the end-of-the year test. Wooohooo!!! It was funny, but my library passes never stayed in the classroom, because a student was always using it. And in the afternoon, when it was open library time, poof they were
gone .

So for all you teachers contemplating using AR in your classroom, do it! Just find a stress-free system that works for you and works for you students. And for those of you finding AR not to your liking, sit back and think about what you're doing....and....CHANGE! CHANGE! CHANGE!