Suggestions For Making Reading Fun

1. Have books available on topics that interest individual children (sports, dancing, animals, etc.)
2. Use current events to choose books
3. Start a series
4. Have age appropriate magazines available
5. Read in unusual places to make it more fun
6. Be comfortable

Accelerated Reader

AR is a program based on the fact that students become more motivated to read if they are tested on the content of the books and are rewarded for correct answers.

Judith Paul developed the basics for the AR program in her home in Wisconsin. In 1984 she wanted to encourage her children to become excited about reading. She combined the elements of a book list, a reading point/motivational system and a brief test. Her husband offered to automate the entire system on the family computer. The system worked. Her children’s interest in reading spread to friends and soon it was used in the local school. Their success snowballed into other school districts and now millions of children use the program.

The AR program was adopted in Bemus Point in 1990 when Mr. Sawyer, Elementary Principal, brought the idea to our area. Bemus was the first school in the county to use AR and now it is used in many area schools.

The program is based in the Elementary Library, but can be accessed by computers in the classrooms and computer lab. All AR books are labeled with a blue sticker on the spine and are in a designated area of the library. Three of the six computers in the library are always opened to the AR program.

Students read an AR book and take a computer test receiving points for correct answers. Prizes are awarded to those reaching a milestone score of 30 for grades K-3 and 100 for 4-6 a special AR t-shirt is given and 50 for K-3 and 200 4-6 an AR cap is the prize.

Classroom scores are displayed on the wall outside the Library and changed each month. At the end of the year all students who have received 100 points or more are recognized at the awards assembly with a certificate of achievement.