Amazing Reading Race Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Question

What is the purpose of the ARR? 

 

Answer

The purpose is two-fold.  First, there is a strong correlation between the amount that students read and the development of reading skills (as well as success at school).  By promoting reading to students, and consequently increasing the amount they read, many students will improve their reading skills.  Secondly, the ARR helps set a culture for reading and increases awareness by staff, students and parents about the importance of reading.

 

 

Question

Which books count towards the ARR?

 

Answer

Books read independently by students, whether at home or school, that are not used for instructional purposes qualify as ARR books.  While instructional books (e.g. novel studies, guided reading books, etc.) are critical to student learning in literacy, they are not counted in the total because they are already happening in classrooms.  Increased independent or leisure reading is the goal of the ARR.

  

 

Question

We are efficiently tracking student reading.  Now what?

 

Answer

There are two components to the ARR.  The first is the tracking component which involves calculating the numbers of books read by grade at each school.  The tracking format looks different from school to school, and often involves classroom teachers who play a key role in maintaining a focus on the ARR .  Results are submitted by principals at the end of each month.  The second component of the ARR is promotion.  Schools generate different activities to promote reading and participation in the ARR.  Most schools have developed staff teams for this purpose.  Whether it is schools challenging other schools, setting targets, providing incentives, celebrating results or organizing book clubs, implementing school-based activities to promote reading is essential to the success of the ARR.

  

 

Question

As students learn to read they are often read to by parents or siblings – why don’t these books count?

 

Answer

First, it must be recognized that all reading experiences for young children are vital to the process of learning how to read and developing an appreciation of reading.  As such, it is important for schools with primary students to continue to foster opportunities such as parents reading to children (and most schools are doing just that).  This is often accomplished through home-reading programs.  The ARR is but one strategy to help our students improve their reading skills, and focuses only on the independent reading component.  Many strategies are important to assisting our students to become readers –these include being read to as beginning readers, having opportunities to read independently (this is the function of the ARR), having opportunities for meaningful engagement with text, etc.

  

 

Question

Some students are now reading books that are significantly below their independent reading level. How can I address this concern?

 

Answer

This question is perhaps best answered with another question - what level of books were students reading at home before the Amazing Reading Race was implemented?  If the response is that they weren’t reading, then what they are doing now is better than not reading at all.  If the response is that they were reading at the appropriate level, then they should continue in the same vein now as nothing has really changed except we are counting and promoting the reading of books.  And finally if the response is that they were reading lower level books, then teachers and/or parents should monitor the level of books that students are reading and guide them towards books appropriate to their level.  It is important to note that having students reading at their independent level increases the likelihood that they will benefit from their reading experiences.  Teachers certainly have the professional right to guide students to choosing books appropriate to their reading level.

 

 

Question

While many of my students are reading, there are a few who still don’t want to read even after the implementation of the ARR.  How do I encourage them to read?

 

Answer

Unfortunately there is no easy answer to this question, particularly at the High School level.  The goal of the ARR is to see more students read more books.  It is unlikely that we will be successful with all students in this regard.  Having said this, it is very important to note that there are many strategies that can be utilized to increase the participation level of students.  The most important strategy, as a teacher, always is to model.  This might mean sharing what the teacher is reading, reading interesting snippets of a book in class or continually talking to students about what they are reading.  Matching student interests with books (both fiction and non-fiction) might also help motivate a student to read more.  Having a classroom library that includes a variety of genres (including high interest books) and reading levels is another possible strategy.  It is recommended that teachers dialogue about this issue and formulate ongoing plans that seek to promote reading by as many students as possible.