[blindkid] Descriptive books??

[Carrie Gilmer]

Dear Carlton,
I am so glad you have pointed this out. I had not heard this about the AR
specifically before. We are taking a close look at online and computer based
tests and gathering information on a national level. I am forwarding your
concerns on. Thank you for bringing it up. If anyone has any troubled
experience with online tests or experience in attempting to contact or work
with a testing company--or you have experience with something working
well... please send me your experience asap.

And thanks for the nice words for me Carlton...smile. 
 
Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 4:15 PM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindkid] Descriptive books??

Hi all,

Carrie's post got me thinking (as her wonderful posts always do).  The
need for descriptions in picture books is evident in the tests of the
Accelerated Reader (AR) program.

My second grader, Anna, just took an AR test this afternoon on a book
at the second grade reading level.  All but one of the five questions
on the test had to do with the PICTURES in the book.  Now, granted,
the book is a Caldecott Award winner and the pictures are nice, but
this is an Accelerated READER program, not an Accelerated Looking At
And Interpreting Pictures program.


We has this same problem with kindergarten AR tests -- I had hoped it
would have improved by now.



This is a book I brailled myself, it isn't available from NBP or
Seedlings (which might have had picture descriptions).  Even though
Anna has some vision, she could not interpret most of the pictures --
they were somewhat abstract and did not have terrific contrast.  I'm
REALLY glad I described the pictures for her as she read the book to
me -- otherwise, she would have received a poor score on the quiz.



Golly, when does it get easier (smile)?



Take care all!!



Carlton

-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
213 North First Street
McConnellsburg, PA    17233
Voice: 717-485-3383

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