AR Fosters a Love for Reading- Unless You're in The Memphis City School District
It was an exciting moment in my Momma Life, my son started 1st grade in Charlotte, NC at an Elementary School of Excellence. With a very active group of parents, this school had a PTA comprised at almost 100 percent. What can I say about the Teachers? Every teacher we had was amazing, supportive, understanding, and downright good at their job. There was a maturity that I had never seen in my children once they started attending this school.
With the start of 1st grade, it was no surprise to me that my son would be passionate about reading. Once he was introduced to the AR Program that was the end of it. He was a reading machine! It wasn't for the prizes to be had, but mainly for the recognition. It became his daily motivator, his Gold Star, and helped him strive to become a student who WANTED to read, who WANTED to do well in school, who fell in love with education.
He would often come running off the bus yelling, "MOM! Did you get my score in your email?!" Yes, I had and with each 100% and each AR point added he was a different child.
When we moved to Memphis from Charlotte, I thought to myself Oh No! He'll have to re-take all those tests. Not a problem Sara, not a problem, We'll review the books and spend extra time in the library and he'll gain 'em back. Imagine my disappointment when his teacher told me there is no AR program at Kate Bond Elementary.
So, you mean to tell me?! A program of excellence, a program that has deemed an asset at fostering a love of reading, is just gone?! Into thin air? According to the Commercial Appeal, "The city school district is discontinuing participation in Accelerated Reader on Nov. 29 (2008), saying it has scant proof it improves reading skills and comprehension. Principals who want it will have to fund it from their own budgets."
What do you do in this situation? Of course, the "no-brainer" would be parents stepping it up a notch and running their own home-based AR program. Have them read books, quiz them, and run an incentive program comprised of your own prizes. It's still heartbreaking that the Memphis City Schools would cut such a program in order to balance the budget.
I had to take my little time to moan & groan because I don't see what they are trying to accomplish here. Next thing I know, they'll be asking students to pay to check out books at the library Gotta meet Budget! Little Tommy, don't run off with that Junie B. Jones book till you pay 1.00!
At our previous Elementary they ran a fundraiser called "One Fund" which is their yearly fundraising. It's exactly what you think it is, the school asking each family that attends to donate a generous amount to help their school reach budget. You can ask your grandparents, friends, neighbors, anyone who might care about the well-being of the school. Did it work? WONDERFULLY! Each person I talked to said they have never had a year where they didn't meet their goal over and beyond.
So, I can whine about the AR program being cut, but ultimately it's the job of the parents to improve and maintain the success of their school. At the moment there seems to be nothing I can do besides keeping my hands on my child's education. I solely believe that without parents who are involved, without parents who care, a school can never be successful.
Dr. Kriner Cash, I want to believe in the Memphis City School District, but I have not seen any evidence that you do. Do you care? Show us parents, we can trust YOUR schools with OUR children. Bring us a peace that we are sending our children each morning to place where we see passion on the faces of the teachers. Give us Hope that we can trust Public Schools again. There are plenty ways around it by homeschooling or sending my children to private school, but the fact of the matter is I'm a believer. I have to believe in the school we're placed in because if I don't, it makes it that much easier for other parents to give up. I pray for our school every night and I feel God will hear those prayers as my children grow up here in Memphis.
I'm in IL and feeling the same way. I believe my sons teacher cares and is doing the absolute best she can for everyone of her students but I believe the state is not giving her what she needs. I HATE the no student left behind thing. I know a lot of teachers and administators and they will all say that teachers have to teach to the state testing now more than ever and learning, real learning for the sake and joy of learning is GONE!! That makes me so sad when I know what joy my kids get from learning!! I want them to learn by doing. Not learn how to do well on a test so a school can get the money they need simply to keep their doors open.
Sorry for the ramble! Just know you're not alone in your frustration.
Cutting programs seems to be happening everywhere. As a former teacher who now has a school aged child, I realize how important it is to voice our concerns while recognizing that it is our responsibility to educate our children. While it's sad that schools have to cut programs, it is important to realize that we can take it as an opportunity to be creative and supplement the education of our children when they are at home. Just know that your aren't alone. Moms everywhere are growing more and more concerned when it comes to public education.
My daughter is now 9 years old, before she started school she "read" all the time and had me reading to her all the time. Once she started school and the push of AR points started, I couldn't get her to read a book. It was a constant struggle to get her to get her points. I think children should be encouraged to read, but the way my daughter's school went about it, just turned the kids against reading. They weren't reading for enjoyment but because they had to, they weren't reading books that they enjoyed but books that would get them their required points for the 6 weeks. I wish my daughter had the teachers you are now missing, she never had a chance.