Magic Treehouse

At Aaron's school, they have a reading program called "A.R.", which stands for "Accelerated Reader". The program is developed to advance kids' independent reading skills. Basically, all kids in the school district, Kindergarten (for those reading) through junior high school, take a computer reading test every quarter. The test tells you exactly what level the child is reading at, and what "range" of books they need to read in order to grow as a reader. Books that are below the level they're currently at are not going to help them grow. Books too hard are not going to help them grow, either. So, they're given a range of what books will help them grow. So, the computer decides the child's AR range.

The school libraries, and even the public library, have labeled all of the children's books with what AR level they are, and a point amount. Teachers then assign each child an AR Goal. For example, last quarter Aaron's goal was 8.0 points. (Most books at Aaron's level are worth 0.5 points.)

So, Aaron has to go to the library, he knows how to pick out books in his AR level, he brings them home, reads them, and then the next day he takes an AR quiz on THAT book, that is pulled up on one of the classroom computers. There are five comprehenion questions. If he misses one, that's ok. If he misses two, he has to reread the book and take a new quiz on the book. These quizzes are so cool, because they really hold the kids accountable for their independent reading.

Well, Aaron just had his reading test for this last quarter, and my little Kindergartener scored a 2.3, which means he's reading at a 2nd grade, 3rd month level. His range is 2.2 - 3.1.

When Aaron's teacher e-mailed to tell me his latest AR test results, I was SO proud of Aaron. He's worked so hard on AR this last quarter, and clearly it's paid off for him. I called him into the office to tell him the great news, and he started jumping around, laughing, and screaming, "YAY!!! I can read Magic Treehouse ALL BY MYSELF now!!!! They're only a 2.6!!!"

I used to read those books to Aaron when he was younger. I've told him before that he should read them himself, but now that the TEST tells him he can read them, he's all over it!!

I let Aaron go to bed tonight with one of the Magic Treehouse books and a flashlight at 7:30. I just checked on him a few minutes ago, over an hour later, and he was still in there, reading in the dark. "I'm trying to get to Chapter 5 tonight!" I've never seen him so excited about reading, nor has he ever read without me telling him he has to, and this is only the second time he's read at home without reading out loud to me. I love his new found enthusiasm for books. I vow to keep him supplied with books that get him as excited as Magic Treehouse does!!