I’m writing to address the topic of Accelerated Reader’s place in the curriculum.

In my opinion, AR has no place at any grade, in any classroom, of any skill level. It’s a disgrace and it destroys, yes, destroys many a student’s desire to read. First of all, according to a respectable blog called Gifted Guru, AR teaches children that reading is extrinsically rewarding, rather than intrinsically rewarding. In other words, while reading should be fun on its own, AR, its point system, and any prizes a school may attach to those points can teach children that reading only has value when there is something else to look forward to afterwards.

Second, according to Pennington Publishing, the database of available quizzes is extremely narrow. This sends a message that only well-known books are worthwhile, and obscure, old, out-of-print books are ‘not worthy’ because you don’t get points for reading them. Would any hospital function if the doctors only received a pay check for treating common ailments? Imagine if a doctor said this, “You’ve got a broken leg, so I can help you.” Compare that to, “Oh, you have an acoustic neuroma. That’s treatable, but my boss won’t pay me to help you, because it’s not in the database. Sorry, buddy.”

You may think that AR is the only way to get kids to read, and I can understand that not every child will naturally gravitate towards a book, but there are effective alternatives to the insipid quizzes. Donalyn Miller makes a case for sustained silent reading, a tactic in which children have time for free, nonacademic reading set aside during the school day.

In conclusion, I despise AR with a fiery passion for many good reasons. Please, for the sake of your students, for the sake of their futures, for the sake of literature, don’t use this program.