[MOSAIC] AR and Federal Research Supporting SSR

[mndrudi at mchsi.com]

I have never used AR.  At first I thought it sounded great, but I'm glad now 
that I didn't.  I HAVE used Book Adventure through Sylvan Learning.  It is 
basically the same as AR, but it is free.   I only use it sporadically to see 
if some of the students I teach are actually reading the book they say they 
are.  The questions are all "right there" questions so no real thinking is 
going into these.  It does help me when I conference with students to talk 
about their lack of ability to pass literal questions on a book they say they 
finished and enjoyed.  My students LOVE to use the computer like that once in 
a while and I can keep track of how each student does on books they are saying 
they have read.  I'm VERY glad it is not required by my district.  

Carol/4th/IA


----------------------  Original Message:  ---------------------
From:    elaine garan <egaran at mac.com>
To:      "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <mosaic at literacyworkshop.org>
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] AR and Federal Research Supporting SSR
Date:    Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:23:56 +0000

> Thanks for responding. If it's ok with you, I'll send this on to my  
> student who did the research. She didn't report this particular type of  
> cheating. I can't wait until she rewrites and publishes it because  
> there is virtually no real research on it. If you want some sound  
> theoretical background google Linda Labbo. She did a study on AR that's  
> very comprehensive. Aflie Kohn has also addressed issues with AR. I  
> have a whole section in my book on it.
> 
> 
> On Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at 10:57 PM, Joy wrote:
> 
> > Elaine,
> >   Your comments on AR struck a chord with me. My own children were  
> > subjected to AR when they were in school. I've told their stories  
> > several times over the years, but recently I had a new discussion with  
> > them about their experiences.
> >
> >   You talked about cheating, and according to my kids, it was and is  
> > rampant. My son (now almost 22) told me one student would read the  
> > book and take the test and pass the questions on to his/her buddies.  
> > Each one would "risk" failing one book so the others could pass. They  
> > created a very systematic model for cheating, and if the teachers ever  
> > caught on, they did nothing about it! The only thing I knew at the  
> > time was how much my kids hated reading, and I figured anything that  
> > would make that happen couldn't be good. It was one of the things that  
> > influenced my decision to go back to school and become a teacher.
> >
> >   I am happy to say that I teach at a school where AR is a dirty word,  
> > and I pray every day that it stays that way.
> >
> >   Thanks for your dedication and continued interest in our group.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >                 Joy/NC/4
> >   jwidmann at rocketmail.com
> >   How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and  
> > content go hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles.
> > Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> 
> 
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