What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Easy Kids Books

Carla

Many school systems use computerized testing as part of reading incentives and comprehension monitoring. Today, I thought I'd share with you some of the pros and cons of using Accelerated Reader and other computerized testing programs for evaluating the comprehension of independent reading material. Certainly, this has been a topic of debate as many reading researchers look at it's effectiveness and like any program, it has been used positively by some and misused by some. 

DISCLAIMER

The purpose of this post is NOT to say whether using Accelerated Reader is right or wrong, judge those who use or choose not to use it, or to in any way speak negatively. My goal with this post is to share what I have experienced in the years I've used AR with my students. It is up to each educator to determine what best meets the needs of his/her individual students. As with anything in education, one size does not fit all. So, let's get the discussion going.

THE PROS

Setting reading goals keeps students focused.

When setting goals with my students, we take time to look at what our students have been reading, how many points were earned in previous quarters, and whether they were hitting the appropriate level to make good decisions on where to set the goal. Through these discussions, students are learning what is best for them to read, so that they are making great choices from my library and from the school library. We are able to pull up the data to see whether there is consistency with their effort too.

The tests keep kids accountable.

If the intent with the tests is to provide a quick check, then I believe they serve that purpose. Yes, the questions are recall questions and not in line with current standards, but for my kids, it gives me what I need, a quick check on whether or not they got the gist. They are quick to take too, so it was easy for me to let my kids slip on the computer or Ipad to quickly take them and move on to a new book.

Student success with the tests can motivate further reading.

I make a big deal when I see students do well. We have AR dances and high fives when kids score 80% or better (and the majority of the time, they do.) With my kids, we remain focused on individual progress toward their goals versus focusing on who has the most points, etc.

Using a computerized program helps the teacher keep track of independent reading levels and genres.

One thing I really like and utilize is the data. I love that I can print my students reading records, share them with parents, and use them to discuss with the kids. I can quickly scan down the list to see if the student is reading a mix of fiction and nonfiction and whether the students prefers a certain series or author. I love that I can make recommendations from the record too. One positive with having the information in the system is that the time needed for keeping these records can be spent on other tasks.

THE CONS

Students can hyper-focus on points versus the value of reading.

Some students get so focused on how many points a book is worth that they will pass up great literature they'd enjoy because it "isn't worth enough points". That makes me sad because great books can motivate kids to read others like it or others by that author. We've had students decide not to read a book because it isn't on the AR list. I hate that kids limit what they read based upon that. Luckily, our school has the web-based version of AR, so almost all books are available, but in past years, that was an issue.

Incentives based upon the points earned can shift the focus to awards versus the rewards you get from reading a great book.

This con has nothing at all to do with the program, but is more to do with how it's used. Many schools use AR stores where kids buy things with their points or have treasure boxes for when kids reach certain milestones. Rewards are fine, but we have to pause and think whether these practices are making our students think, "What will I get if I finish this book?" or even worse, "I'll never get to that many points, so I'm just going to give up!" That is so counterproductive to what we want as teachers. The way to improve your skills is with practice, so we want kids to build upon reading momentum to read more and more and more. We also want kids to see that the pleasure of reading is in the reading itself versus reading for a reward.

Students can misuse the program.

I have had to monitor my students' use of the program. I have had students cheat with it by either having other students take tests for them or by looking in the book for answers. We've handled it by deleting the tests where the cheating occurred, and even though it was handled, the concern for me is that the kids felt the need to cheat in the first place. Why? Were they concerned about keeping up with peers, earning the quarterly incentive party, or just not reading the book? Probably all of those reasons, so you have to wonder if AR is creating an environment of competition which is turning some kids off to reading.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS

1. As you make decisions for this year's reading plan, the main thing is to make a plan that will build a love for reading no matter what. If your school uses AR, no problem. Find ways to build a culture of reading in your classroom and use the program's positive features to help you discuss with your student what to read next. 
2. Let your students share what they're reading with their classmates. Build time in your day for independent reading and emphasize great books versus points. Student success builds success, so giving them time will show them that you are a team and that you value time to read. 
3. Use goal setting to motivate. Perhaps a change in mindset to number of books read will help keep kids from reading inappropriate books (books that are way below their level or way above their level). It's a great feeling to reach goals early, so try to set the goal at a level that the student will reach without great difficulty. 
4. Set up space to highlight great books. Having a book recommendation wall where students can share books they love works well. Book talks are also a great idea. 
5. Finally, communicate with your students. See what they're reading. Discuss the books with them, and see what they're planning to read next. Being familiar with books is really important, so that you can give book suggestions too. 

Now it is your turn. I know you will have opinions on this topic (which is one reason I chose it). We learn from positive discussion, so please, please keep positive. I did not write this post as a "This is what you should do post", but rather, the goal is to get you thinking of how to motivate your kids this year. I am very neutral. I do not feel one system works with every group of kids or teaching style. We are all unique teachers and have unique kids, so choices we make have to be determined by us considering all factors. So, let's hear from you. Share what's worked well for you please, and until next month...have a fabulous return to school (whether you were ready or not.)

When setting goals with my students, we take time to look at what our students have been reading, how many points were earned in previous quarters, and whether they were hitting the appropriate level to make good decisions on where to set the goal. Through these discussions, students are learning what is best for them to read, so that they are making great choices from my library and from the school library. We are able to pull up the data to see whether there is consistency with their effort too.If the intent with the tests is to provide a quick check, then I believe they serve that purpose. Yes, the questions are recall questions and not in line with current standards, but for my kids, it gives me what I need, a quick check on whether or not they got the gist. They are quick to take too, so it was easy for me to let my kids slip on the computer or Ipad to quickly take them and move on to a new book.I make a big deal when I see students do well. We have AR dances and high fives when kids score 80% or better (and the majority of the time, they do.) With my kids, we remain focused on individual progress toward their goals versus focusing on who has the most points, etc.One thing I really like and utilize is the data. I love that I can print my students reading records, share them with parents, and use them to discuss with the kids. I can quickly scan down the list to see if the student is reading a mix of fiction and nonfiction and whether the students prefers a certain series or author. I love that I can make recommendations from the record too. One positive with having the information in the system is that the time needed for keeping these records can be spent on other tasks.Some students get so focused on how many points a book is worth that they will pass up great literature they'd enjoy because it "isn't worth enough points". That makes me sad because great books can motivate kids to read others like it or others by that author. We've had students decide not to read a book because it isn't on the AR list. I hate that kids limit what they read based upon that. Luckily, our school has the web-based version of AR, so almost all books are available, but in past years, that was an issue.This con has nothing at all to do with the program, but is more to do with how it's used. Many schools use AR stores where kids buy things with their points or have treasure boxes for when kids reach certain milestones. Rewards are fine, but we have to pause and think whether these practices are making our students think, "What will I get if I finish this book?" or even worse, "I'll never get to that many points, so I'm just going to give up!" That is so counterproductive to what we want as teachers. The way to improve your skills is with practice, so we want kids to build upon reading momentum to read more and more and more. We also want kids to see that the pleasure of reading is in the reading itself versus reading for a reward.I have had to monitor my students' use of the program. I have had students cheat with it by either having other students take tests for them or by looking in the book for answers. We've handled it by deleting the tests where the cheating occurred, and even though it was handled, the concern for me is that the kids felt the need to cheat in the first place. Why? Were they concerned about keeping up with peers, earning the quarterly incentive party, or just not reading the book? Probably all of those reasons, so you have to wonder if AR is creating an environment of competition which is turning some kids off to reading.Now it is your turn. I know you will have opinions on this topic (which is one reason I chose it). We learn from positive discussion, so please, please keep positive. I did not write this post as a "This is what you should do post", but rather, the goal is to get you thinking of how to motivate your kids this year. I am very neutral. I do not feel one system works with every group of kids or teaching style. We are all unique teachers and have unique kids, so choices we make have to be determined by us considering all factors. So, let's hear from you. Share what's worked well for you please, and until next month...have a fabulous return to school (whether you were ready or not.)

Ebooks: what are they?

Ebooks are books in electronic format.

Ebooks for children have words and pictures, just like traditional print books. They might also have interactive elements like recorded narration, music, sound effects, animations, games, inbuilt dictionaries and so on.

You read ebooks on ereaders like Kindle or Kobo, on computers, or by using apps on tablets and smartphones.

Benefits of ebooks for children

Like print books, well-designed ebooks can help children learn language and develop social, listening and thinking skills.

Ebooks can also be a different and fun way for children to enjoy reading, experience stories and learn information. For example:

• Illustrations, animations and games can help children understand and recall story details.
• Music can help children understand characters and plot developments.
• Dictionaries and narration can help children learn new words and expand vocabulary.

Ebooks can help beginning readers and children who struggle to read independently, including children with learning difficulties. For example, these children can listen to narration while they follow the words. They can also use interactive features to better understand stories.

Ebooks can sometimes motivate reluctant readers.

You can start reading print books with babies as early as you like – the earlier the better. But it’s best to avoid reading ebooks with children under 2 years. Ebooks are unlikely to have benefits for this age group and aren’t recommended.

Disadvantages of ebooks for children

Ebooks can distract children from reading if animations, sound effects and games don’t work well with the text. For example, if ebooks have games that don’t really relate to their stories, children might just want to play the games rather than read the stories.

Sometimes interactive features can make it harder for children to understand stories. For example, this can happen if there are sounds that don’t relate to the story.

Reading and storytelling with your child promotes brain development and imagination, teaches your child about language and emotions, and strengthens your relationship. That’s why it’s good to read with your child every day. It’s fine to share a mix of print and ebooks.

Choosing ebooks for your child: tips

When you’re choosing ebooks for your child, look for the same qualities that you’d look for in print books.

These qualities include:

• well-told stories about things your child relates to or is interested in
• a wide variety of words
• funny, engaging rhymes that help your child learn language
• information that’s pitched at the right level for your child.

It’s also important to look at features like sound, animation and games. These should work well with the text to illustrate the story and help children understand the story or learn something new.

You can also check whether you can customise the ebook. For example, it’s good to turn off the narration so you can read the book and talk about it with your child. A read-only mode is good too – this allows your child to listen to the story without the interactive features.

Reading ebooks with your child: tips

Your child will get the most from ebooks when you read ebooks together. These ideas can help:

• Hold your child close or on your knee while you read so your child can see your face and the book.
• Move slowly from page to page. This gives your child time to look at the images and text.
• Explain the meaning of unfamiliar words or images, talk about the story, focus on the things your child is most interested in, and ask open-ended questions. For example, ‘How do you think the dinosaur is feeling?’ or ‘What do you think will happen next?’
• Try to focus on the story or information rather than on the device. You can do this by connecting interactive elements to the story. For example, ‘Why do you think there’s happy music?’
• Watch for signs your child is getting distracted or losing interest. It might be time to put the ebook away or try a different kind of book.

Reading ebooks together gives you the chance to help your child learn to use ebooks in a positive way. For example, you can show your child how to swipe, scroll, click on words to hear their meanings, turn narration on and off, and use other interactive features appropriately.

Ebooks and bedtime

Traditional print books are best for bedtime because they help your child relax and get ready for sleep.

If you want to use ebooks close to bedtime, it’s best to avoid noisy and exciting ebooks, which might overstimulate your child.

It’s also a good idea to use an ereading device that lets you minimise blue light. Blue light can make it harder for your child to get to sleep because it tricks their brain into thinking it’s daytime. Some devices have a ‘night shift’ or ‘night light’ setting that changes the light the device emits. You can also download blue light filters.

Choosing an ereader for your child and family: tips

Ereaders come in 2 types:

• ‘do-it-all’ devices like tablets
• ‘just for reading’ devices like Kindle and Kobo.

These questions can help you choose the right device for your child and family.

What do you want to use the device for?
Kindle or Kobo devices are just for reading and come in black and white only. They’re usually not as responsive to touch as tablets. You can do more things on a tablet. For example, you can play games, use apps, access social media, watch videos and so on.

How old is your child?
Young children whose fine motor skills are still developing might find it easier to use ‘tap and swipe’ touchscreens on tablets. The controls on devices like Kindle and Kobo are harder for very young children to use.

Will you be using the device to do a lot of reading?
Devices like Kindle and Kobo have screens that are more comfortable to read because they use a technology that mimics ink on paper. Tablets have backlit screens that are associated with increased eye strain. If you’re using a tablet, smartphone or computer, it’s a good idea to turn down the brightness to prevent eye strain.

Do you want to borrow ebooks from your local library?
If you want to borrow ebooks from your local library, you can do this with tablets or Kobo. Kindle uses a file format that isn’t supported by Australian library systems.