[MOSAIC] AR

[RASINSKI, TIMOTHY]

Lori -- i think your note below illustrates a central tenet in effective reading instruction -- it's not the program or the method or the materials that matters most;  it's the teacher that matters and how the teacher employs the program, method, or materials.
 
 
Timothy Rasinski 
404 White Hall 
Kent State University 
Kent, OH  44242 
330-672-0649 
Cell -- 330-962-6251 
FAX  330-672-2025 
trasinsk at kent.edu 
informational website: www.timrasinski.com 
professional development DVD:  http://www.roadtocomprehension.com/ <https://exchange.kent.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.roadtocomprehension.com/>  

________________________________

From: mosaic-bounces at literacyworkshop.org on behalf of lori.labrum
Sent: Wed 6/27/2007 10:19 PM
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] AR



Ok, I will put myself out for a hanging here.  My school bought into AR many
years ago and I do use it.  It is not mandated; it is entirely up to the
teacher how we use it.  I realize it is not a reading program to teach
reading, but I don't use it as such.  Our library has the leveled books
mixed in with all the other books on the shelves and I don't require that
students read only AR books.  My students (third grade) only need to earn 3
points a quarter, which means they only have to read and pass quizzes on 2-5
books.  I only use it to see if they are truly reading the books they say
they are.  But that is not my only method of checking their independent
reading.  We do book talks, write book reports, all the other things that
good teachers have students do.  This is just one way to assess, and yes, I
know the questions are all recall....I know all the reasons why teachers
don't like it.  But it gives me another hard copy record to show parents how
their child is doing.
How many times do students pick a book they "want" to read, and then just
look through it, or talk about it with a friend, or "I saw the movie" and
then try to do a book report or a book talk?  Same thing.  With a class of
30 third graders I don't get to everyone to conference about each book they
read.  And for the parent who insists that the 300 page book is just right
for their child, then they take a quiz after reading it, it helps to show
the parent that perhaps that book was truly a bit too difficult for the
child.  Also, on the other hand, when a better reader consistently chooses
books that are too easy, I can show the parents the report, praise them for
getting good high scores on recall, and challenge them to try a book that is
a bit more difficult.
No, it isn't my only way and I don't expect them to read ONLY AR books, but
for me, it works as another resource.  (Only 3 points a quarter doesn't take
long.....................the rest of the quarter they do all those other
things.)
Lori/Utah



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