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Reading is Fundamental

2/20/2017

Marianne Chase

Many of you are very familiar with the well-known reading program Accelerated Reader (AR). The students at Calvary participate in this program from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Loved or hated, this program seems misunderstood at times. AR is intended to encourage young children to read books that they can understand while increasing their reading level at an acceptable rate.

From the Renaissance Learning website, “A Parent’s Guide to Accelerated Reader,” we get a concise overview of this program. “AR is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at his own level and reads it at his own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.) AR gives both children and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help your child set goals and direct ongoing reading practice.”

The Accelerated Reader program’s intentions are honorable. It develops strong reading habits while staying on pace with the individual student. Reading to children and with children has been thoroughly researched. And as educators, we can see the positive effects of reading on a child’s overall development and future success in school and beyond. The reason that we promote this program at Calvary is directly related to the research. Our involvement and our reaction as parents and educators lets the children see the positive aspects of reading. As they move up in grade level, the interaction and feedback that they received early on with reading will be felt in different facets of their lives. They may not understand the positive effects of this program and of reading at first, but research shows that children involved in the Accelerated Reader program are twice as likely to be college and career ready.

Reading is a fundamental activity. It can help us understand different people and situations; it can transform you into different lands, ease anxiety and put your mind “on vacation.” Reading can ultimately make you a better communicator and able to connect to what is happening in the world. So, promote reading positively in your home, and we will continue to do so in our school, knowing that our children’s future success builds directly upon this skill.

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