Reading programs can play a huge role in a students reading success. After all most schools reading blocks are larger than any other subjects taught in the classroom. Programs like Reading Street and Accelerated Reader which are used though out mobile county elementary schools can have a huge impact on your students reading success. Reading Street is a program that pretty much plans your entire reading block for you. It tells you what to read, questions to ask, answers to expect, what to do in small group, how the text should be interpreted. I think Reading Street is a great program when used correctly, but it is the teacher job to get extra supplemental activities for the students to do along with Reading Street.
Accelerated Reader also know as A.R. can also be a helpful tool when used correctly in the classroom. It think the purpose of it was to help students pick out those "just right" books that are meant for them. When used appropriately students pick out books that are at the instructional level and as they progress they move up reading levels. It wasn't meat to made as a consequence for students. It was created to help students become better readers.
Inside my classroom I will use these two programs as a tool inside the classroom and not as a crutch. Reading Street and A.R. can be so much fun for students if put in a good teacher's hand. They can be used to enhanced and broaden your students learning, and not looked at as something boring that they have to do.
