Comments on: The 18 Reasons Not to Use Accelerated Reader

By: Nikki Heath

Nikki Heath — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:44:59 +0000

Hi, there,
I fully agree with Caroline. We have begun to use AR this year and there’s been a real ‘buzz’ in my library lessons. Weaker students are no longer picking up ‘thick books’ that they truly cannot read but are reading books quickly, gaining in confidence and moving quickly up the levels, and are really enjoying their reading. There’s a more focussed atmosphere as the students know that AR will ‘catch them out’ if they aren’t reading the books properly.
Students are told they should be reading lots of different things, from web pages to magazines, newspapers and other books besides the ones on our AR shelves, and are actively encouraged to do so. We are encouraging them to read for 10 minutes or so a day their AR book, but should be reading other material too.
As long as AR is used in the correct way, it CAN increase reading ability, confidence and frequency in all students whether they be weak or strong readers. Our students love using it and are proud to share their sucesses with their teachers and their families.

By: Jack Stevenson

Jack Stevenson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:02:04 +0000

I agree that AR quizzes limit the potential of a student to read books at their own level or above. Just because you pass a quiz doesn’t mean that you are smart. I think that kids should be challenged to read to learn and not to get points or prizes.

By: Children's Literacy and Reading News | Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub Blog

Children's Literacy and Reading News | Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub Blog — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:25:20 +0000

[...] need to think long and hard about using/relying on Accelerated Reader (AR) programs. Jim refers to Mark Pennington’s article (which is also worth a read). On the personal side … kids need to learn to read, but they [...]

By: B McEntire

B McEntire — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:16:07 +0000

I have used AR and STAR effectively for over a decade; however, I have seen others use AR to absolutely destroy student morale. I agree with Ms Roche #5: almost every point in the article should begin with “Misusing AR” rather than “Using AR.” As is so often the case with so many things in life it is how you use it that counts. The STAR assessment does have a strong correlation to written exams that test vocabulary and reading comprehension. I have compared and charted these scores myself to see. It should not be the definitive tool used to benchmark but it does provide one more piece of objective data for the thinking professional to use to get an idea about where a student is with their reading ability. And it used to be inexpensivly priced to accomplish this although in recent years RenLearn has totally changed its business model to siphon annual fees to host the data on their own server. This greed has almost made me pull out of the program because it has become so cost prohibitive. I digress. It is amazing to me how we continually try to place blame on a piece of software when the responsibility rests squarely upon our own shoulders. Let’s throw the baby out with the bath water again.

By: Caroline Roche

Caroline Roche — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:24:03 +0000

All I can say is, as a librarian who has used AR for over 10 years, that most of the reasons you cite for not using AR I would never dream of doing. And most of those mistakes you cite seem to have been made by teaching staff, not librarians. We encourage reading for its own sake, and when a child is a confident reader, then I encourage them to go ‘off list’ and choose whatever they like to read, and if it happens to have a test on – which loads of my books do – they do a test on it. My pupils are allowed to borrow 4 books, only one of which must be their AR book. I do not dictate to them or comment on their other choices. It is a real joy to see, as I have again and again, pupils suddenly, through AR, become confident in reading and fly for themselves. All of us are not rigid – I believe the scheme is far better when run by librarians, who are used to encouraging reading, than by teachers, who by nature tend to be far more didactic.

By: paije

paije — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:40:04 +0000

Definitely true!!! I am a high school student who has always struggled with AR. It is not because I am not an avid reader, but rather that I read “unpopular” books or books that are far above my level. the list definitely limits your reading, excluding even some great classics. I have seen many in my class discouraged to read for fun, and view reading rather as an assignment rather than a luxery.

By: Ms. Yingling

Ms. Yingling — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:55:24 +0000

I’m not a fan of AR, but there are some less evil ways that it can be used. Unfortunately, the thing it teaches best is how to take a test, and that is a skill the students are called upon to use. I try very hard to get students AR books that they also enjoy, and we have students donate tests and put labels in the books they choose. Not perfect, but I’m trying to work with it because I have to.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:29:49 +0000

Nice one! I had to share this on my blog as well. Keep fighting the good fight for authentic reading. Thanks for the ammo.

By: Caroline Starr Rose

Caroline Starr Rose — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:23:18 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Mark. Very valid points here.