practices - Gallaudet University

“Children know their levels because they are assessed
throughout the program,” said Yetti Sinnreich, the veteran
KDES teacher who began coordinating AR with sixth, seventh,
and eighth grade students three years ago. This assessment not
only helps teachers and students know which books are written
at appropriate levels for them but it also keeps parents informed
of how their child is progressing in reading and development.
“Before, we would see students who were beyond the
beginning reading level pick up a beginning reading storybook
and just read through it quickly,” Sinnreich said. “Likewise, we
would see children who struggle with reading pick up a junior
high book and just pretend to read. This way, we know that the
level of the book that students read is
appropriate.”
Once students finish a book, they
take the computer-based quiz.
“It’s not a quiz that tests deep
analytical thought,” noted Sinnreich.
“It’s content-based, but it makes the
kids pay attention as they read. The
quizzes also have the effect of giving
children practice on multiple-choice
18
“The quizzes are
tough,” Sarah
acknowledged. “But
taking the quizzes
helps me improve.”
Left: Counselor Georgia Weaver explores a book with student Antisha Wilson.
Below:Yetti Sinnreich, far left, who implemented the Accelerated Reading
program at Kendall School, with student Sarah Martin at the keyboard, and, left
to right, students Kevin Sumpter, Amy Martin, Michael Halloran, and Brad Sims.
On opposite page: On computer and at their desks, students read and take
tests independently and with teacher assistance: Breanna Wilson, left, pauses
at the keyboard; Kevin Sumpter works with Wendi Weirauch-Olson; and
Sarah Martin reads.
tests. They provide immediate feedback for the student and
feedback and documentation for teachers and parents.”
“FANTASTIC SARAH,” begins a printout that informs
Sarah that she’s passed her most recent test. Then it gives a list
of the books she has read, the level at which the books are
written, and her quiz results.
“The quizzes are tough,” Sarah acknowledged. “But taking
the quizzes helps me improve.”
KDES student Breanna Wilson, age 11, was seated at the
computer and ready to take a quiz. She held up her most recent
acquisition, Flying Solo, by Ralph Fletcher. “It’s about how kids
did things themselves without their teacher,” Breanna explained.
AR gives students and teachers a choice of reading
approaches. When quizzed, students are asked how they
experienced the book, and given the codes for three ways of
student-book interaction: Students may have read the book
independently, may have been read to, or may have experienced
guided reading and had a teacher help them negotiate the
book’s text. When finished with the book, all students take the
quiz in the same manner as they experienced that book,
whether independently or with teacher assistance.
ODYSSEY WINTER 2002