In classrooms across the country, reading is often accompanied by the dreaded quiz. The logic seems sound—test students on what they’ve read to ensure they comprehend the material. However, this approach may be doing more harm than good, particularly when it comes to fostering a genuine lifelong love for reading.
Quizzes are intended to motivate students to read more but often have the opposite effect. Most students, especially struggling readers, are not motivated by the prospect of yet another test. The focus on quizzes can turn reading into a chore rather than a joy, diminishing students’ enthusiasm for exploring new books and stories.
Engage Students With Reading, Not Quizzes
Standardized testing already subjects students to frequent assessments throughout the school year. This makes us think, “Why add another layer of testing to students’ independent reading?” While it’s important to gauge what students are taking away from their reading experiences, their progress is already monitored through various milestones. Adding more tests and quizzes may contribute to burnout rather than a love for learning.
At Beanstack, we intentionally avoid using quizzes to assess students’ reading. Instead, we offer options like writing reviews or responding to open-ended prompts, allowing students to reflect on what they’ve read more thoughtfully. This method respects students’ individual learning styles and encourages deeper connections with the material. Moreover, we’ve created tools to preserve students’ reading independence while ensuring honest logging. Questionable entries are flagged, verification and freezing help to manage participation, and logging limits and warnings can be customized.
Our philosophy is simple: encourage any type of reading to help students build reading stamina and grow both academically and socially. We believe that when students can choose their reading material and engage with it without the pressure of assessments, they’re more likely to develop a lifelong love of reading. Just like with any activity, frequent practice leads to improvement. The more students read daily, the stronger their reading skills become over time, making it far more beneficial in the long term than reading solely for tests.
How Accelerated Reader Falls Short in Promoting a Love of Reading
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a popular tool in many schools, but has significant drawbacks. Often, students choose books for their point value rather than personal interest, feel pressured to finish them, associate reading with quizzes, and miss out on exposure to new and diverse literature.
- Points Over Passion: AR’s point-based system can eliminate the excitement of discovering new genres, characters, and stories. We frequently hear from schools where students choose “easy” books with low point values simply to accumulate points quickly and move on to the next quiz. When students prioritize points over content, they may not fully absorb what they’re reading or develop a deep understanding of the material, missing out on the opportunity to truly engage with the stories and ideas within the text.
- Choosing Books: Think about how adults choose books. Adults read for pleasure, to learn, or to escape into another world. And if we don’t like a book, we can put it down without feeling pressured to finish it. In contrast, students who select books knowing they’ll be quizzed on them often feel forced to finish, even if they’re not enjoying or engaging with the material. Beanstack offers a more natural approach to reading that mirrors how adults engage with books, allowing students the free choice to explore and enjoy what they read without the pressure of quizzes or forced completion. Plus, teachers can join in, too, facilitating fun student vs. staff reading competitions that make reading a shared, enjoyable experience.
- All About Mindset: One of the major downsides of AR is that it can condition students to associate reading with quizzes rather than seeing it as a pleasurable activity. At Beanstack, we believe in fostering a mindset that values reading for enjoyment. Schools can create tailored reading challenges—such as genre-based or heritage-based challenges—that encourage students to explore different types of texts without the looming pressure of a test.
- Keeping Up With Literature: Another significant limitation of AR is its failure to keep up with new literature. With so many incredible books published each year, it’s frustrating that many are unavailable in AR. Beanstack overcomes this issue by allowing students to scan ISBNs and log any type of reading—whether it’s a book, article, or required reading material. We believe that all reading counts and should be celebrated.
See how Beanstack compares to Accelerated Reader
Why Free-Choice Reading Unlocks Student Potential
One of the most detrimental things we can do is restrict what students can and can’t read. When students are limited by the level of the book or a point system, countless opportunities to discover new characters, stories, and ideas are lost. Beanstack encourages free-choice reading, allowing schools to tailor specific reading challenges like Principal’s Picks or even Battle of the Books, providing students with a wide range of reading experiences.
Break the Link Between Reading and Testing
We know that not all students excel at test-taking. For those who struggle with assessments, linking reading to quizzes can create a negative association with books. Beanstack avoids this by separating reading from testing, focusing instead on more meaningful interactions with the text. Students can write reviews, respond to open-ended questions, or engage in other creative activities that deepen their understanding without the pressure of a quiz.
Learn more about Beanstack's reading accountability tools
Going Beyond Points and Quizzes
A common issue we hear is that students stop reading once they reach their AR points goal, considering their reading “done” for the year. Beanstack encourages ongoing reading with features like daily streaks, community goals, badges, and leaderboards. These elements keep students engaged and motivated to continue reading throughout the year, helping them build consistent and rewarding reading habits.
Put Beanstack to the Test
Reach out today to discover how Beanstack compares to your current reading tool. We’re confident you’ll see how we can ignite your students’ lifelong love of reading.