For the Love of Reading...

I have fond memories as a child of browsing the school library, scouring for that book to grab a hold of me, the one I couldn't put down, the one I couldn't wait to finish.  There were always the old stand-bys, the guaranteed good read, but then there were a number that surprised me. 

In Grade 7 my browsing was proving fruitless and my english teacher handed me a book and simply said, "Read it.  You'll love it."

The book was Sword of Shannara and I couldn't put it down.  I never would have picked it up on my own, but it fuelled an insatiable love of the written word that has not burned out since.

Our current school (and all the other schools we've been in) participate in the Accelerated Reading Program, or AR.  All books are categorized according to reading levels, the children are tested to be placed within these levels and as they read they complete quizzes that test their reading comprehension.  This program is touted as encouraging more and better reading for kids, turning non-readers into readers, blah, blah, blah.  Each quiz passed garners the child a certain number of points which are then used to move them to other levels and, even better, earn rewards and prizes for their efforts.  Seems lovely?

I disagree.

My oldest two have both been home in tears since we've moved because they cannot choose a book to read from the school library.

WHAT??

Our particular school librarian is stringent with this program to what I consider a fault.  Children cannot browse the library shelves, find something that interests them and give it a go.  They must search for appropriate level books on the computer, then decide on one book and get it from the shelf.  (Searched anything in the library catalogue lately before you went and pulled it off the shelf?  Would this help you find something to read?  I think not!) 

They must only choose from their pre-determined level.  No self improvement or motivation here!  They must then read it in it's entirety and take the test - whether they like the book or not!

Madi was in pieces today because she has a Whale book that she doesn't really enjoy but she has been told if she does not get a certain "grade" on her AR test she cannot trade the book.

She must read it again.  A book she doesn't enjoy!!!!

When was the last time you as an adult with free agency read a book you did not enjoy two or three times just for the heck of it?  I regularly check out 5 or 6 books, try couple and take them back.

What is going on?  When did reading become a competitive subject?  Does anyone really think this fosters a love of reading?

Studies show it does not.  In my fairly quick reasearch online, there is NO SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE that this program really works.  In fact, when students leave the program their reading SHARPLY DECLINES. 

Duh.

It's based solely on extrinsic motivation.  Nothing intrinsic.  Just like everything else our kids face in this reward-me-entitlement world.  So why are we using it in our schools?

And where are the teachers?  Where are the adults who should be gently nudging these kids into unknown literary worlds?  When we arrived they didn't have time to test Clay, so the teacher assigned him a level of 3.5.  (I could have told her if she'd only asked that his level in Magrath was 5.4.  Big difference!)  As a result, he was only allowed to select books in his reading level.  This child that worked so hard on reading for 3 years with an intrinsically motivated program was suddenly reading Captain Underpants again (he read those in grade 1).  When I asked him why he said he had to, he had no other choice.  And besides, they're easy. 

Does a teacher need a reading level to know when a kid's books are too easy?  When a child reads an entire 'novel' in 20 minutes I can pretty much guarantee they're ready for a new challenge.  But then I don't have an education degree, so I could be wrong.

And more points are awarded for the new, popular books than for the old classics.  Why choose Anne of Green Gables or Bridge over Tarabithia when you can get twice the points for Harry Potter or the Bone series.  (I have nothing against any of the above titles.  I've read them all and loved them equally, but I never see a classic in the hands of my children.  Shame on our education system!)

I guess I'm gonna have me a talk with the librarian....

For now, thank goodness for the public library.  At least there you can browse the shelves and fall in love with the written word - on your own terms.