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First Grade AR (Accelerated Reading) Program
Your student should read for at least 20 minutes EVERY night! You can read to them as well (bedtime is a great time to listen to parents reading stories) but at some point every day your student should read a book themselves, hopefully out loud to an adult who can help to be sure they are understanding and reading the words correctly, but even reading to an engaged younger brother or sister can be effective practice! They will return their book to school and take a brief (usually 5-10 questions) comprehension quiz on the story.
If your student is struggling to read the words in their book, and it has a BLUE DOT on the front or spine (book levels 0.1-0.9), read the book with them the first time, helping them track the words with their finger. After the first reading, read it again, this time with them attempting to read as many words as they can while you help with the harder words. Do this several times until the are confident with most of the sentences (they will be mostly reciting more than truly reading, but this is an okay first step for students still early in the reading process as long as they are pointing to each correct word as they say it.) The AR quiz will be read to them, so as long as they have had support to read and discuss the book a number of times with you or another adult/older sibling, they should still be able to pass the AR quiz for the book even if they cannot independently read it.
If your student is really struggling to read the words in their book or to understand the content, and the book has a RED, GREEN, or PINK dot on the front or side (book levels 1.0 and up), send it back to school with a note so we can make sure the book is the appropriate level and exchange it for another book which will not be as frustrating.
How the AR Program Works
Students will select a book from the classroom library, school library, or from home within their ZPD range (this range is listed in your student's zippered book pouch). When selecting books outside of school, visit arbookfind.com to determine if a book is in the Accelerated Reader program and has a quiz available. Books from school are marked with their reading level inside the front cover, and our classroom books will also have a colored dot on the front cover or the spine indicating their level.
Students will read their book, preferably with an adult who can provide support. Picture books can be read a few times, unlike chapter books. With chapter books talk with your student about each chapter and ask comprehension questions. Most first grade students will be reading picture books--if you would like your student to begin reading a chapter book, please talk to Mrs. Nowak first (see more details about chapter books below.)
When a student has finished their book AND HAS A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLOT AND CHARACTERS, it can be returned for the student to take a quiz.
Please do not have your student return an AR book for a quiz if the book has not been read and discussed thoroughly. It might be a good idea to reread the book two or even three times before attempting the AR comprehension quiz.
Most first grade readers should be finishing and quizzing on 2-3 picture books per week to stay on track for their point goal.
Once a student has taken a quiz they receive immediate feedback on their results and their overall point total. Students must reach their point goal with an 85% average accuracy rate. At the start of the school year you will receive information on how to sign up for "Renaissance Home Connect" which will send you an email with the results of every AR quiz your student takes. Please let Mrs. Nowak know if you need another copy. Students who pass their AR quiz with a score of 100% will get to have a special reading trophy on their desks until the following day!
After each quiz students will return their book to the classroom library or school library and check out a new one.
All Judson & Brown students will be recognized for meeting their trimester goals with a certificate presented in class at the end of the trimester.
A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT NON-FICTION AND CHAPTER BOOKS!
Non-fiction book AR quizzes are often include very specific questions on facts learned in the book. One of the AR goals students have each trimester is their average quiz score, and low scores from non-fiction books can hurt that average if they aren't prepared to answer those tough detailed questions, even if they can read all of the words in the book. Be sure to read non-fiction books very thoroughly, and make sure the books are in the lower part of your student's ZPD reading range unless it is a topic they know very well, or if they have taken a good amount of non-fiction AR books successfully and want to challenge themselves. They are welcome to read a book just for fun and not quiz at the end if it seems like the quiz will be too difficult for that particular book, but help them monitor their AR progress to make sure they are taking enough quizzes to meet their AR points goal for the trimester.
Students who are reading at a level of at least 2.0 or higher (green dot) and have demonstrated proficiency on regularly reading and passing AR quizzes on picture books at their level will have the opportunity to try reading a chapter book for their independent reading if they wish. The process for chapter books will be a bit different, as the book will only be read one time before taking the quiz. Students should be reading independently and have good reading comprehension before attempting to quiz on chapter books. I still recommend an adult reading the first few chapter books with your student to be sure they are truly reading and sticking with the book rather than just skimming through. Students reading chapter books should aim for taking at least one AR quiz each week. If they cannot read their chapter book in one week, it is likely too difficult for them at this point (later on in higher grades, longer books will take greater than a week to read, but for first grade chapter books a week should be sufficient). Reading books based on movies students have seen is often very tricky because the movie plot and the book will always have at least some parts that will be very different, and those quizzes are written in a way that students will not be able to pass if they have watched the movie but not read the entire book closely enough.
Tips for Increasing Comprehension
Periodically, ask your student questions about what they’ve just read (see the “Reading at Home” graphic below for ideas!)
If your student does not recall what they have read, have them go back and reread the last sentence or paragraph.
When your student has finished reading the book, ask them questions about:
Characters
Setting
Plot (sequence of events)
Favorite character
Favorite part of the story
Your student might want to reread their book multiple nights before trying to take the AR quiz.
Reading At Home Guidelines.pdfAR Goals and Awards
Each trimester, students have 3 AR goals to achieve:
Each student will have a personal AR points goal set based on their ability. Each week as they quiz they will track their progress towards their trimester points goal. They earn class money for staying on track towards their trimester goal based on the weekly benchmark percent goals (see CALENDAR section of this website for the AR benchmark percent goal dates).
All J&B students have a comprehension goal of 85%. This means that the average score on their AR quizzes needs to stay at or above 85% accuracy.
Students know their ZPD (reading range), and should be selecting books within that range to read. As they quiz, the AR program will monitor the levels of the books they are reading to ensure that the books are not too easy (lower than the bottom of their ZPD range
PLEASE NOTE: First grade students with a very high ZPD (3.0+) will have their bottom ZPD range flexed to include some level 2 books, since many level 3 and most 4 and above books cover content above first grade students, even if they technically are able to read the words. I encourage the highest readers to begin exploring the wonderful range of level 2 and 3 chapter books that are written for first graders.
At the end of the year, there will be a special ceremony for the AR Program. First grade students who have met their goal for both trimesters 2 and 3 will come forward for a certificate and a reading medal (students in grades 2-5 must meet their goals all 3 trimesters for their medal, but first graders have trimester one to get the hang of the program before it "counts" for the year-end medal).
There is also a special award given to the student at each grade level who read the most words during the school year (based on their AR quizzes taken). All students who read at least 1,000,000 (one million) words during the school year are also presented with a special award signifying their great achievement as well.
PLEASE NOTE: Reading 1,000,000 words is a great goal for students reading chapter books IF the student is already a lover of books naturally, but for students still reading mostly picture books (which is--and should be--MOST first graders) and especially students who are still learning to love reading, it is important to let them grow at their own pace and not push them towards this lofty goal before they are ready. They have many more years at J&B to join the Million Words Club!
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