What is Accelerated Reader?
Accelerated Reader or AR is an in-class reading program, in which student read on their level, whatever interests them, daily for thirty minutes. After completing a book, students will take a quiz in class on their student IPad. This web-based app will monitor student's progress toward their goals.
Just like an athlete trains for his/her sport, students must practice the reading skills that they are learning at school and apply them in a real world way. The tool we use is AR.
Outside of our thirty minute designated AR time, students are free to read more in or out of their range. However, students are only allowed to take a quiz over what has been practiced in class.
Just like an athlete trains for his/her sport, students must practice the reading skills that they are learning at school and apply them in a real world way. The tool we use is AR.
Outside of our thirty minute designated AR time, students are free to read more in or out of their range. However, students are only allowed to take a quiz over what has been practiced in class.
What are the students reading?
Based on student's NWEA data, each student will receive a range of book levels that appropriate for them. This range is called the ZPD or Zone of Proximal Development. Basically this means that based on how the student preformed on the NWEA Assessment, they can be successful independent readers if they read books within this range. The students will be encouraged to start at the lower range of this zone. I will be monitoring daily what each student is reading to ensure they are successful. Students will need to prove that they are comprehending what they are reading by taking a Reading Practice Quiz.
What does the book level mean?
The book level of the book is NOT the grade equivalent. The AR levels of the book is the average readability or the text complexity of all the words in the book. That means that it takes into account all the little words (is, and, the, a) as well as all the higher vocabulary words and averages them together. Books that have a high book level (9.0-12.0) are usually nonfiction books.
Most books that you read for fun or enjoyment are within the 4.5-6.0 range. For fun, you can check the level of your books by typing the title of your book into the AR Book Find website that you can access through the button at the top of the screen.
Most books that you read for fun or enjoyment are within the 4.5-6.0 range. For fun, you can check the level of your books by typing the title of your book into the AR Book Find website that you can access through the button at the top of the screen.
How can I check the content of the material?
When you search for a book on arbookfind.com, it will give a book level (BL), Interest Level (IL), AR Points, and a brief summary of the book. The Interest Level has a few classifications: LG (lower grades k-4th), MG (4th-8th), MG+ (6th grade +), and UG (8th +).
What do the points mean?
The point value assigned at a book is essentially the number of words within the book. The number of points a student needs to attain in order to reach their goal is based on the ZPD and the number of in class minutes that they are given to read in class daily.
What are the goals my child is trying to attain?
The goals for each child vary depending on the ZPD. The goals are three pronged:
- Reading Practice Quiz average of 85% or higher (quality of their reading)
- Average book level being at or above the lowest number of their ZPD (difficulty)
- Reaching the number of points required based again on their ZPD (quantity)