Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a program that we use to supplement our reading curriculum. It allows the students to individualize their learning by reading books at their own reading level.
First graders are added to the program as the teacher recognizes they are ready to be successful. All students will be in the AR program by the end of first grade.
Here is some information that might help you better understand the program. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me or the school librarian, Mrs. Dennett.
STAR Testing
* Each student is given a STAR test three times a school year to determine his or her reading levels - at the beginning of the school year, after Christmas break, and at the end of the year. The test, taken in the computer lab, consists of 25 questions in which the student uses context clues to fill in a missing word in a sentence. This helps determine the vocabulary level at which the student will be successful at reading and comprehending independently.
* Once a reading level has been established, you can use AR Bookfinder to help find books at your child's reading level. There is a link below.
* After a student reads a book and takes a test on it (at school), a TOPS report is generated. At this time, reports are not automatically printed, but I can print them for you if you would like. This report can let you and me see how your child did on the test, and how he or she is progressing with goals. There is a lot of information on a TOPS report. If you have any question about how to read a TOPS report, please feel free to ask me about it. A sample report is below.
* Students are working on two "goals" simultaneously: a Quarter Goal and a Certificate Goal -
* A student's Quarter Goal is set by the librarian. In first grade, a typical goal may be to earn about 8 points. The books at this age are usually worth 0.5 point to 1 point. A child that scores a 100% on the book read will receive the full point value of the book; a score of 80% will receive 80% of the book value, and so on. We keep track in the classroom of how each student is progressing towards meeting his or her Quarter Goal on a special chart. The children really work hard to meet their goals. In first grade this is not recorded on report cards.
* Students are also working towards Certificate Goals. There are 7 levels of AR certificates (Ready Reader, Independent Reader, Rising Reader, Super Reader, Advanced Reader, Star Reader and Classic Reader), and there are several numerical levels within those certificate levels (i.e. Rising Reader 2, Super Reader 3, etc.).
These are the guidelines for advancing through the certificate levels:
Ready Reader
|
Accumulate 5 points on books Read To, Read With and/or Read Independently.
|
Independent Reader
|
Student must independently read at least 3 books with 1.2 or higher book level and accumulate 10 points.
|
Rising Reader
|
Student must independently read at least 3 books with 1.6 or higher book level and accumulate 10 points. There are 3-4 levels of Rising Reader.
|
Super Reader
|
Student must independently read at least 3 books with 2.0 or higher book level that are worth at least 1 point each. There are 10 levels of Super Reader.
|
Advanced Reader
|
Student must independently read at least 3 books with 3.0 or higher book level that are worth at least 2 points each. There are 10 levels of Advanced Reader.
|
Star Reader
|
Student must independently read at least 3 books with 4.0 or higher book level that are worth at least 4 points each. There are 10 levels of Star Reader.
|
Classic Reader
|
Student must independently read at least 3 books with 6.0 or higher book level that are worth at least 7 points each. This level has an unlimited amount of levels. :)
|
*** It is important to understand that a student can be meeting a Quarter Goal, but not be reaching a new Certificate Goal if he or she is not reading at the required book level or point value level.