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May 6, 2008 by Travis Jonker

Special Report: 1st Graders Enjoy “Green Eggs and Ham”

May 6, 2008 by Travis Jonker   2 comments

I open up my morning paper and what’s there on the front page? The results of a report done by Renaissance Learning laying out the “most read books” at each grade level. How do they know? Renaissance Learning makes a software program called Accelerated Reader that is used in thousands of schools nationwide. The software allows students to take reading comprehension quizzes on books that they have read, earning points and prizes. If you’re a school librarian, you know that this program is often controversial. Whether you like the concept of extrinsic motivation for reading or not, this report gives an idea of which books are popular at elementary schools using Accelerated Reader. Let’s take a look:

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Click here to see the article in its entirety in The Washington Post.

First grade:

1. “Green Eggs and Ham,” Dr. Seuss

2. “The Foot Book,” Dr. Seuss

3. “Are You My Mother?” P.D. Eastman

Second grade:

1. “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” Laura Numeroff

2. “Green Eggs and Ham”

3. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” Eric Carle

Third grade:

1. “Charlotte’s Web,” E.B. White

2. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” Judi Barrett

3. “Officer Buckle and Gloria,” Peggy Rathmann

Fourth grade:

1. “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” Judy Blume

2. “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” Patricia MacLachlan

3. “Because of Winn-Dixie,” Kate DiCamillo

Fifth grade:

1. “Bridge to Terabithia,” Katherine Paterson

2. “Hatchet,” Gary Paulsen

3. “Holes,” Louis Sachar

I’ve gotta say that the results are a bit surprising – quite a few classics. However, since Accelerated Reader quizzes are taken at school, the books kids are reading are from the school library. So, maybe some love should go to school librarians, who keep stocking the classics alongside the newest hits.


(Top Image: ‘Genetics Exhibit, San Jose Tech‘
www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/176219371)

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About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. teacherninja says

    May 6, 2008 at 9:59 am

    I hate to say it, but I imagine those are the most popular on AR because they are popular read alouds. Is there even an AR test for what I see most checked-out right now: Diary of a Wimpy Kid? I mean, it’s great that these books are popular no matter how because they’re all good, but somehow I doubt those are the top three 5th grade books kids self-selected.

  2. Scope Notes says

    May 6, 2008 at 10:15 am

    You make a good point about some recent books not having quizzes available, thus excluding them from the list. There is definitely some reading between the lines to be done here. Is this list a good estimate of the books kids would pick if given free choice in a book store? I would say “Nay”.
    But, I agree with you: it’s good that some of these titles are still making their way into the hands of youngsters.

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