Date Posted:14:27:12 05/10/02 Fri Author:mod Subject: Re: Accelerated Reader In reply to:
Calm
's message, "Re: Accelerated Reader" on 09:27:19 05/10/02 Fri
Some children may need an incentive program as they do not receive the support of family. If this type of program will instill a love of reading and encourage students to become better readers then that's great.
The AR program itself does not teach a thing. It is a tool used to figure out what level of comprehension the student has achieved. It does not help the student read at all, it simply assigns point values to a book and rates reading levels after a student takes a comprehension test. The AR program does not need an incentive program to work.
Instill a love of reading? Research has shown that rewards (and punishments) only provide temporary compliance. If a child is only reading a book because it is worth so many points or they need to get 2 more points to attend the ice cream party, we're sending the wrong message.
