Below I have tried to answer some questions that both parents and students have asked in the past. Please feel free to contact me with additional questions.
What is the best way to contact you?
Are students allowed to redo their work?
AR stands for Accelerated Reader. This program has been adopted as part of the reading curriculum at St. Joseph Grade School and Middle School in grades 1-8. The 1999-2000 school year was the first year that grades 7-8 had access to Accelerated Reader.
Accelerated Reader is a program that allows students to pick books they would like to read from the program. The program includes over 210,000 books. So, most books that students can think of have an AR test available, but they still need to double-check that it does have a test online. https://www.arbookfind.com/ The teacher helps guide the student in the selection of an appropriate book based on their individual reading level. (Generally, in my classroom, as long as the student isn't reading well below their level, there is not an issue with the student reading what they like to read.) Throughout the year, the teacher monitors the student's progress, and encourages each student to both select books they enjoy reading as well as challenge their reading levels. When a student completes a book, they take a multiple-choice test over the book on the computer. The computer records the student's scores, and maintains detailed records for the teacher.
Each individual teacher determines the best way to monitor this program for their students in the St. Joe District. Each book in the Accelerated Reader program has been assessed for reading level as well as given a point value based on word count and overall reading level. In my classroom, seventh grade students are required earn 15 points every nine weeks, and honors students are required to earn 25 points per nine weeks. (Honors students have an additional reading list requirement designed to expose them to a variety of classic novels.) Earning all of their points will give them a 100% for their Accelerated Reader grade which amounts to two test grades. Students are also rewarded with a variety of prizes for points they earn over their required points a nine weeks.
Students are given about 80 minutes per week to work on their Accelerated Reader books. This time is called Reading Workshop in my classroom, because the reading program currently in place most closely resembles the Reading Workshop that Nancie Atwell describes in her book, In The Middle, Writing, Reading, and Learning with Adolescents. I have merged the Accelerated Reader program with my Reading Workshop. (For more information on Accelerated Reader, please visit their web site.)
Reading Workshop includes the time in which students are working on their Accelerated Reader novels. The students typically spend two class periods a week working on Reading Workshop. Reading Workshop consists of more than just reading novels and taking tests on the computer. During Reading Workshop days, the students spend the majority of their time reading silently. However, Reading Workshop also consists of Books Talks in which students "advertise" what they have been reading to the class. An important part of Reading Workshop is student-teacher mini conferences which cover topics such as what the student's novel is about, student progress on their individualized plan, and book selection. Students also complete small assignments on their books in order to aid in reading comprehension and development of their understanding of literary terms and devices. Students will also be given differentiated assignments that focus on comprehension to meet their individual needs.
Reading Workshop Rules
1. Students need to select a novel close to their reading level. Students will not receive credit for books significantly below their reading level.
2. The students must read and/or write about what they are reading for the entire class period during reading workshop.
3. Students cannot do homework or read any other material for another class. The reading that takes place during reading workshop is an extremely important part of our literature class.
4. Students may not talk to or disturb others.
5. Absent students must make up lost reading time.
6. Students need to give one book talk per nine weeks.
7. Students should complete all Accelerated Reader tests by the assigned date for the nine weeks. It is also advised that students earn their points as early as possible in the nine weeks.
8. Students must complete the necessary components and review them with Mrs. Garrison PRIOR to testing. These components (book reviews and/or book projects) will be tracked in their binders, and students will need to refer to their binders to see their personal assignments. Students need to follow their individualized plan.
9. It is recommended that students finish their required components and take their tests as soon as possible after finishing the novel.
10. Students need to take their Accelerated Reader tests in Mrs. Garrison’s room after getting approval from her. Accelerated Reader tests taken without permission are worth zero points.
11. Students need to be aware of the number of points they need to earn their desired grade.
12. Students will only be allowed to take ONE test per day for the last five days of the Accelerated Reader marking period. This rule is to prevent students from procrastinating and/or trying to pass the tests on several books they have not read at the end of the nine weeks.
13. Students may be asked to get daily parent signatures on a reading log if they do not show adequate progress.
14. Students should select books with age-appropriate content.
15. Students are responsible for making sure their book has an AR test. While there are over 210,000 books to choose from, not every book has an AR test, especially newly-released books. Students should use https://www.arbookfind.com/ to check their book if it is not already labeled from our school library system.
Some of the rules are taken from:
Atwell, Nancie. In The Middle, Writing, Reading, and Learning with Adolescents.
NOTE: Honors students have an additional reading requirement to meet their AR goal, and they also have a few different rules.
The best way to contact me is via e-mail at agarrison@stjoe.k12.il.us. I have found that I can respond to e-mail fairly quickly if you are needing an immediate response. If you prefer speaking with me, please call the school and leave a message. I will return your call as soon as possible, but I am with students the vast majority of the day. (It makes it very difficult to have a private conversation when students are present in my classroom--but I can often quickly type an email response!) I am also available for parent-teacher conferences throughout the year, both before and after school. Just call me at the school or e-mail to make an appointment. Also note that during the school day if you have a message that must get to your child, it is best to contact the office directly at (217) 469-2334. There are times when our internet is down, and if I am gone from school, the substitute teacher will not have access to my email account.
Students may be allowed to redo homework papers that are D's or F's as long as these papers were turned in on time, and there was a clear misunderstanding of the assignment on the part of the student. (In other words, not because the student rushed through the assignment or showed a lack of effort.) Students may earn up to half of their missed points back. For example, if a student earns a 50% on an assignment, and then redoes the assignment and gets a 100%, that student will get the grades changed to a 75%. Redo work is due prior to testing or the end of the unit we are studying.
I rarely give extra credit assignments. I have found that allowing students to redo low assignments has been the most educationally beneficial in my classroom. This way, students are working on learning the concepts they need to know for the upcoming test or paper rather than focusing on something only related to the curriculum. The extra credit I give is usually along the lines of positive reinforcement for class participation, or for rewarding students who go beyond the established criteria for a particular assignment. Students may earn A+ passes for rewards for reading above and beyond the AR requirement as well. A+ passes can be used to improve a low homework score to an A+. Additionally, unused homework and locker passes can be turned in for extra credit. But, I don't give large extra credit assignments.
1. HOMEWORK COMES FIRST! Study hall is a time for students to study! I want students to get their work done so they will be able to enjoy their time after school participating in activities and spending time with their family and friends.
2. BRING UNCOMPLETED HOMEWORK, ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK, AND READING WORKSHOP NOVEL. Students will need to bring their assignment notebooks even if they have no homework. Students will also need to bring their reading workshop novels to study hall everyday--no exceptions.
3. KEEP THE WORK ENVIRONMENT QUIET! Students need to keep quiet so that everyone can get their work done! If students are assigned group work by another teacher that must be completed during study hall, they will be allowed to work as a group after seeking permission. However, the FIRST time any member of the group distracts a student outside of that group, the group will be disbanded and the teacher who assigned the group work will be notified.
4. FOLLOW ALL CLASSROOM RULES. (Please see the classroom informational letter.) Students will receive three free warnings for study hall.
I am willing to help students with questions throughout the entire period. I will also be providing information on study skills, organization, time management, and test taking as needed.
•Students participate in an online vocabulary program weekly, which is Vocabulary.com. We work on this program on Fridays during language arts. Students are ONLY allowed to take the quizzes during class time. Their homework grade comes from their progress on the assigned list, so every student should be able to receive 100% on their weekly vocabulary score. (Some students might take more time than others, as if they continue to miss a word, it goes back into the pool or words until they prove mastery.) Students MAY work on the homework from any computer with the internet, and they may practice these words from home. If a student wants to re-practice a list and erase their progress to start from the beginning again, it will NOT erase their grade progress. (Students can't make their grade worse if they chose to do additional practice.)
•In literature, Mondays and Wednesdays are typically set aside for Reading Workshop. Therefore, homework assigned on Tuesday is due Thursday. Homework assigned Friday is due Tuesday. I encourage students to work on homework the night it is assigned, but I allow the extra time because I know how busy schedules become.
• Each student should always have a novel to read for Reading Workshop/Accelerated Reader. Students should always be reading, even after they have their grade points for the nine weeks.