4. What’s your motivation?
• Create a love of
reading
• Entice reluctant
readers
• Promote the library
• Increase circulation
• Increase literacy
scores through
reading practice
5. • Technically not a reading incentive program
• Reading Management System
• Stephen D. Krashen:
• Access to reading material
• Time to read
• Testing on content
• Prizes in exchange for points (not necessary to
AR)
6. Reading Selection
• Reading programs • AR quizzes only cover a
allow for self- limited range of
selected, interest- material
based reading, outside • Reading level
of established requirements further
curriculum limit available books
• Mandatory reading (and may pose privacy
programs can justify issues!)
library purchases • Selection for books
outside of curriculum that are hard to quiz
can be limited: how-
tos, poetry, etc.
7. Reading Time
• Mandatory reading • Mandatory
programs = more incentivized reading
reading time than could lead to less
SSR programs voluntary reading
• Possible increase in • Reading time takes
literacy with AR at from instruction time
the K-3 level • Silent reading isn’t as
productive as reading
group discussions
8. Testing / Assessment
• Turns reading into • Could lead to higher
another homework standardized test
assignment scores
• AR tests • Accountability for
recall/surface SSR
reading, not deeper • Statistics and
understanding or quantitative results
connection for analysis
• Reading = Stress • Immediate feedback
for students
10. Ask Yourself:
• Do I focus on individual achievement and
goals, so all students are recognized?
• Can groups or classes collaborate? Is
collaborative work or discussion encouraged?
• Are students still reading for other reasons than
this program? Do I still promote materials that
might not “count” for the incentive?
• Are my incentives appropriate and related (public
recognition, certificates, books)?
*Adapted from Doug Johnson’s “Creating Fat Students Who Don’t Like to Read.”
11. “Book Bucks”- Diva Steiner
• Voluntary Program • Bucks can be spent
• Does not replace on books at fairs
curriculum time several times a year
• No book criteria, • Bonus Bucks earned
open selection from creative
engagement-
• Students give their
posters, dioramas, b
review of book and
ook covers, etc.
summarize the story
• Aligns with schools’
“Early Literacy
Profiles.”
Editor's Notes
Book It! Read to Feed! Summer Reading Programs! Charity Donations (Read to Feed)! Books! Verbal recognition & Praise!
As with politics, it’s complicated, but many people use results to support what they already think. Xkcd- Wikipedian protester. Difficult to research because most articles/research are done on the biggest program: Accelerated Reader
Not everyone is starting on the same page… reading programs (of any kind) can be more or less successful at these). Different members of a learning institution might have different motivations.
AR is the most well-known RIP, because it’s management system makes for easy adoption. It is also the most controversial. Krashen breaks down AR into 4 componetsStudies unclear on the outcomes of AR (nothing to compare to), but possibly more harmful than good.
Librarians or teachers can create quizzes for additional works, but many require students to chose only AR texts.Is selection based on reading level? Problem: reading level does not always correlate with emotional or maturity levels.Problem- If books are labeled by reading level- it’s been suggested this could compromise student’s rights to privacy.
- Some studies show Students K-3rd do show some improvement in literacy over non AR, possibly because of extra practice, but no comparison to non-AR SSR programs, etc.
Some students appreciate the immediate feedback, and enjoy working to improve their scores.
Research varies on whether rewards damage development of love of reading. Some studies show that other factors, like choice of materials, setting own goals, effect far more.
Book Bucks is a RIP developed by Diva Steiner, an elementary librarian from NY. 3-5th graders receive $1 Buck for every 30 pages read, K-2 receive $1 for every book readThe Book forms were changed to match Early Literacy profiles, to help teachers gauge comprehension & reading improvement.
