A few weeks back my son (who attends the same school in which I teach) came home with a note in his backpack. The note, written to all parents in his class, addressed a "reading incentive that would guarantee to make reading fun." As a parent I was intrigued. As I read on this "incentive" was nothing more than read a book, take a test and earn points. The "harder" the book the more points you earn. Although it is very similar to AR it is a different program. Different packaging, same idea. They must also log on at home and take tests as they finish books. As a mom I asked my son what he thought about doing it since they had already started. His response was surprising. He seemed excited to earn all these points and get prizes like lunch with his teacher. I held my breath and decided to let it ride out. I did not tell him I expected a particular number of points, nor did I tell him he had to log in at home and take the tests. Within a week he came home and was excited to read his own books. Books he picked out at the bookstore. I asked why he was more excited than usual and he said it was because he can't read books he likes at school because he has to read and take a test. He said,"Reading isn't fun anymore at school. I have to read 5 Arthur books to get in the reading club. I don't like them because they are boring. I would rather read my books." I have to say I was waiting for that. It took him a while to read the Arthur books. Not because they were too hard (actually they were quite easy for him) but because he had no interest in them. He joined the club kicking and dragging his feet. Last week his teacher beamed telling me that my son would be having lunch with her because he's been taking his tests and is one of 12 who joined the reading club. As a mom my heart breaks a little knowing that he goes to school each day and has to read within boundaries.
When my son came home with that letter, as a teacher, my heart began palpitating and I was angered. Last year was the first year in this new state and district and I struggled listening to my 3rd graders and their parents complain about AR. My number one request for parents at conference night was to help their kids find books to read. They quickly learned my philosophy, that reading is it's own reward. It is so powerful and magical that while reading you can be whoever you want and travel to every imaginionable place. I told them they did not have to do AR. I did give them the option but told them that I would not be giving pizza parties for getting a particular amount of points. In fact I wouldn't require them record and keep track if their points. Our first trip to the school library saddened me. All the kids migrated to the AR sticker chart to determine what books they were "allowed" to check out. It was so sad. Since then I have taught them how to pick just right books. Books that interest them and they can read well and comprehend. I looped with my class and they continue to flourish with reading books of their choosing. We have great class discussions and I am constantly hearing them barter for books that fellow students are reading and have talked about. It is so nice to have students who would rather read a book because they have heard great things about it rather than because it gets them the most points. Now I am not living in a utopia. I understand that some students need the points "motivation" but is it really motivating if it is not creating life long readers?
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