Accelerated Reader at North Bay Elementary

 

 
Students at North Bay Elementary participate in Accelerated Reader. This is a computer program that helps teachers motivate their students to read more and better books. Numerous studies have shown that reading is a foundational skill- the key to performing well in all subject areas. The Accelerated Reader is but one of the tools our teachers use to ensure that your child receives the practice he/she needs to become a better reader.
 

How does it Work?

.......It's as easy as 1,2,3!

 
     
1. The student chooses a book and reads it at their own pace. AR books can be found throughout the school library and even in most of our classroom libraries, making it easy for students to find a book at their level. Our teachers provide a silent reading period every day, and students are encouraged to read when they complete class work early, at home or when they have some spare time.
 
2. The student takes a quiz on the computer. The quiz has either 5, 10 or 20 multiple-choice questions, depending on the level of difficulty of the book. Quizzes are taken in the classroom.  We now have access to every AR quiz available, so there should be a book for everyone! Some of our teachers also make up quizzes and enter them into our computer system.
 
3. The student and teacher get immediate feedback to direct ongoing reading practice. Points are awarded based on the reading level and length of the book.
 
The STAR reading assessment software has also been introduced to our students. It allows us to set individual goals for each student based on how he/she performed on the test. This test is usually given in the months of August, December, and May of each year to students in grades two and three and strong readers in grades kindergarten and first. The STAR Early Literacy reading assessment is administered to students in kindergarten and first grades.
 
 
Frequently Asked Questions
 
How can I find out if the books we have at home are AR book? How can I find the book level of a book I have at home?
You can go to www.arbookfind.com and enter the title of a given book.  If the book is an AR book, the information for the book including the book level will appear.
 
How do I tell if a book is right for my child?
 Books should be challenging, without being frustrating, with students aiming for at least 80% on the quiz. This ensures that the book was at the child's appropriate reading/listening level for comprehension and the student experiences success.
 
What if my child doesn't pass the quiz?
If the student is unsuccessful on a quiz, this can also yield valuable information as it lets us know that the student did not comprehend well what they heard or read. Therefore, the student should choose an easier and/or shorter book.
 
What if my child says they cannot find any books that interest them?
We now have access to every Accelerated Reader Quiz, which should ensure that all of our students have access to material they find interesting and is suitable for their individual reading skills.
 
What do the points that my child earns mean?
 The points a student receives is a measure of the amount of reading practice that child has done. The score on individual quizzes give the teacher or parent valuable information on how well the student comprehended what they read or heard. It is a diagnostic tool to evaluate whether the book was too difficult, too easy or just right for this student.
 
Is this a competitive program and will my child be compared with others?
 No. All of our students need to practice reading, but at their individual level and pace. Students do keep track of their points and try to reach their own goals. As everyone reads at a different level (just as some run faster or slower than others) each student will have different goals to reach and will reach them at a different pace. As stated earlier, each child's goal is individually set and should be  attainable by the student each term if they are reading enough books at the appropriate level.
 
Is it OK for a helper (or me if I'm in the school) read the quiz to my child?
 As we are dealing with comprehension (did they understand what they read or heard), it is OK for our younger students to have the books and the quizzes read with them or to them.
 
If the student gets "stuck" on a question, should I (or the helper) give them the answer?
 No. As we are attempting to obtain information about the suitability of the reading material, it is not appropriate to give the student answers as the information the teacher receives will not be accurate. Not being able to give an answer/answers is an important piece of information for you and the teacher as it can be an indication that the level is too high for this student to practice their reading with.