Parent AR Information

AR 101

Click to access Guides for Parents pdf

Accelerated Reader is a web-based program

designed to improve reading skills through personal reading. Studies show that if a student reads at his/her reading level every day in areas of interest, then reading skills, comprehension, and vocabulary grow by leaps and bounds. We have seen over and over again that the students who establish a regular habit of selecting and reading personal reading material do better in almost all school subjects than those who do not read regularly. Personal reading is good for the brain, plain and simple!

How does AR work?

First, students take a STAR test to identify their "reading range" or zpd (zone of proximal development)

Using that range as a guide, students select reading material that personally interests them. The AR parent company constantly creates quizzes that match newly published fiction and non-fiction. Students read the books of their choice, and then take a 5-20 question quiz online. Students are given immediate feedback as to their accuracy and have the opportunity to view mistakes.

What are AR goals and how are they set?

Students in grades 3-6 are encouraged to develop good reading habits by reading material that is challenging without being too difficult on a regular basis. Reading goals help students understand their own reading ability, as well as strengths and weaknesses. Using results from the STAR reading range chart, classroom teachers set quarterly goals in three areas:

Achievement= Quiz item accuracy, set for all students at 85%. Students must earn an average quiz score of 85% or higher.

Points= Number of points correlates to the amount of reading. Each book is assigned points, based on the number of words in the book. Shorter selections like picture books are usually worth 0.5 points. Longer selections vary with higher points.

Reading Level= This goal is usually set near the low end of the student's identified reading range. Students need to read in their range in order to enjoy growth in reading

How can parents stay informed of student progress?

Log onto Home Connect, an online service that shows all quizzes taken, along with scores and progress toward quarterly goals. Students can even see the total number of words they have read! Parents can set up an email notification service to see quiz activity results within minutes after a student has quizzed. Use your child's school user name and external password.

Can students take quizzes at home?

It is vital that students develop personal responsibility and increased confidence by taking quizzes independently, so quizzing at home is usually discouraged. Many classroom teachers provide the opportunity to take quizzes during the school day, and the library is open before and after school (8:15- 3:45) for students to take quizzes. They do need a pass, which can be obtained in the library.