The AR reading program gives both the teachers and students feedback on the
quiz results which assists the teacher in assisting your child with setting goals on
...
October 2010
PARENT’S GUIDE to Accelerated Reader @ SPARK
What is Accelerated Reader (AR)? Springdale Park uses the Accelerated Reader (AR) program to support our reading instruction. Accelerated Reader Committee Veleda Cofield
Chair
Shenise Shorter
1st Grade
Jamie Nossokoff
2nd Grade
Elon Marquis-Dunn
3rd Grade
Jennifer Lockwood
4th Grade
Kalinda Redel
5th Grade
Monica Slack
5th Grade
AR Participation Sept. 11—Oct. 11 First Grade (65/90) - 72% Second Grade (78/85) -92% Third Grade (64/75)—85% Fourth Grade (53/62) -85%
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children's independent reading practice. The AR program is an instructional tool that is designed to improve reading comprehension. Your child picks a book at his/her own level and reads it at his or her own pace. When finished, your child takes a quiz on the computer at school.
( Passing the quiz, is an indication that your child understood what was read). The AR reading program gives both the teachers and students feedback on the quiz results which assists the teacher in assisting your child with setting goals on reading practice.
AR is a tool that supports reading success at SPARK.
STAR Reading Assessment To assist with determining your child’s reading level, we also use the STAR Reading assessment which is a computerized reading assessment that uses computer adaptive technology. The questions continually adjust to your child’s responses. If your child answers a question correctly, the difficulty level is increased. If your child misses a question, then the difficulty level is decreased. STAR Reading is commonly used for progress monitoring and it provides specific reading assessment information necessary to make data-driven decisions in a matter of minutes.
Fifth Grade (38/58) - 66% Building a Legacy of Excellence
During the first three weeks of school, the STAR Reading Assessment was administered to all students in grades 1-5 in the Media Center. Each teacher was provided with a report that outlined the AR level and reading tips for each student. The STAR Reading Report is the foundation for the Accelerated Reader Program and will be administered during the middle and at the end of the school year to determine measurable reading growth. The first STAR Reading reports should have been sent home for most students in grades 1-5. If you have not received your student’s STAR Reading Report, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.
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Implementation of AR Now that we have completed the first nine weeks of school, we are taking action to ensure full implementation of Accelerated Reader. Based on the initial results of the STAR Reading Assessment, students have been encouraged to choose books from the Media Center within the first five levels of their AR Reading Level (RL) Range or ZPD. For example if the STAR Reading Diagnostic Report indicated that a student’s ZPD or RL is (3.1 – 4.7) this student should have initially been choosing books from the Media Center with an AR RL of 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5. Students are then required to read the book and take an AR quiz. When stu-
dents score 85% or higher on at least three AR quizzes, they will be allowed to increase their RL one or two points within their RL range. Continuing with the example above, this student may move up to choosing books with a RL of 3.6 and 3.7. Once this students scores 85% or higher on three additional quizzes, we will increase their range again. Students are allowed more flexibility in selecting their books once they have taken a minimum of three AR quizzes; they will not be required to choose only books within their RL.
Students generally need some guidance on choosing books on their appropriate reading level. Usually after they become accustomed to the practice of choosing appropriate RL books, they generally see more success in their quiz scores and the enjoyment follows.
AR Rules The SPARK Accelerated Reader Committee has compiled a list of AR rules (which are included on this document); Please be mindful that each grade level may have specific rules that apply to their individual grade. At SPARK, we believe that the effective use of the AR and Star Reading Programs will challenge our students, encourage a life long love of reading and promote student success. If you have any additional questions related to the Accelerated Reader or the STAR Reading Test, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher, an AR Grade Level Committee Representative or Veleda Cofield at
[email protected].
1.
Students must read the entire book within a two week period before taking the quiz.
2.
Students must read books on their current AR Reading Level (RL).
3.
Quizzes must be taken independently.
4.
Students may not take quizzes on titles below their RL or ZPD.
5.
Books may be used to type the title of the quiz only.
6.
Students may not use the book to search for answers while taking the quiz.
Goal Setting and Incentives
AR Goals will be set and implemented in all 1st through 5th grade homerooms by October 15th.
There will be a quarterly incentive program for all students who meet their AR goals each quarter.
7.
Students may not take more than two AR quizzes a day.
8.
Non-fiction books must be read twice before taking a quiz.
9.
Students are only allowed to take a quiz once on any title; retakes are not allowed.
10. Students should record their books and quizzes on an AR Reading Log.
AR BookFinder Selecting the right books for your student to read is easier than ever. Just visit www.arbookfind.com to access AR BookFinder. With a few clicks of a mouse, you can search for titles at the appropriate level that your child will find interesting and enjoyable.
A school-wide incentive contest will begin on October 18th of ‘Girls vs. Boys” and the group with the highest amount of AR points at the end of the school year will be rewarded with a SPARK students celebration on the lawn. are shooting for the stars with AR.
Building a Legacy of Excellence
An AR bulletin board will be created in the Media Center to display student success at SPARK.
