LUCERNE >> On any given school day at Lucerne Elementary, students can be seen in the library, choosing their books for the week. Softly murmured questions can be heard being passed between teacher and students, or student to student.
“Where are the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ books?”
“Wanna get the same book as me?”
“Where are the spider books?”
Lately, a few new questions have started circulating.
“What color sticker do I look for?”
“How many points is this book worth?”
“Can I take an AR test?”
The last question has become the most prevalent.
AR, or Accelerated Reader, is a computer program that helps teachers and librarians manage and monitor student’s independent reading practice. Students are tested at the beginning of the year, and put into their correct level. They can then read an AR book, and afterwards take a test of 5-20 questions, depending on the level of that book. Points are earned by answering questions correctly. The higher and harder the book, the more points a student gets. Every 10 points, students may pick a prize from the prize board, which is located in the library.
The prize board itself is also a huge draw to the library. Students stand around it, whispering about how they plan on spending their points. One wants a Beanie Baby, another wants the Frisbee with Snoopy on it. Rocket balloons and yo-yos are also popular commodities. There are kites, beach balls, cards, puzzles, and Star Wars toys, all bright and shiny, just waiting to be earned.
And earned they have been. Weekly, the library gives away up to eight small prizes, and, usually, one or two large ones. Teachers and students praise and cheer the prize-earning student, who happily shows off his or her prize to the rest of the group. New prizes are put up, and the cycle begins all over again.
And the students love it.
“I like the Accelerated Reading program because it inspires me to go higher on my reading level to get more points,” said Dylan Slater, fourth grade.
“We get better and better at reading AND get prizes,” said Laney Teal, third grade.
The younger grades are getting involved, as well. First grader Willow Epperson said, “It’s kind of fun reading and teaching others to read.” She is also really excited to get a prize.
The teachers are happy with the program, too.
“I really enjoy the AR Program,” said Deondra McGuire, first grade teacher. “It encourages my students to read in the classroom and at home.
When the students have read their book, they take the quiz in our classroom. This makes it super easy and convenient.”
“The Accelerated Reading (AR) program is a program that enables students to read at their individual level and to then take a short test on the story,” said Cindy Jacobson, third grade teacher. “The program provides encouragement for reading and assesses their comprehension of the story….The students have embraced the challenge of taking collectively 100 AR tests by the end of the year. They are very enthusiastic about the proposition and reward of an ice cream party!”
“The AR program works quite well for students who like to compete,” said Martin McClure, fourth grade teacher. “Some students are simply not interested in the competition but most like to earn the prizes. It allows students to develop fluency by reading easier books for fewer points or students can push harder to read more difficult books for more points. It has infused excitement for reading in the classroom. Students enjoy trading books and sharing their favorites with each other. Students are reading more books on their own than ever before.”
There are some downsides, though.
“My AR books are falling to pieces,” said Katy Tipton, school librarian, with a grin. “I’ve had to put in a mid-year order for more book-repair supplies. I don’t mind, though. It’s really exciting to me to know that the books are being read and enjoyed. And it’s amazing to see the progress that the students have made in such a short time. Plus, I get to know them a bit better than I would without the program. I’m excited to see how the rest of the year goes.”
