Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children's independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at their own level and reads it at their own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.)
Accelerated Reader gives both children, parents and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help your child set targets and direct ongoing reading practice.
How can I help my child to be a better reader?
Your child is taught the skills of reading in school from Reception. They learn early reading through Read Write Inc phonics and through books that are read with them daily. This continues throughout their time in school, progressing to more complex texts as their reading skills develop. The practice of these reading skills is vital and this is something you can do with your child at home by reading to and with them daily.
As with anything, performance improves with practice. Encourage your child to read at home. Create a culture of reading in your household by reading with your child, starting a home library, visiting your local library or bookshop on a regular basis, letting your child see you reading and discussing books that each of you have read. When reading with your child, stop and ask questions to be sure your child is comprehending what is read. Reading with your child, no matter what the child's age, is an important part of developing a good reader, building a lifelong love of reading and learning and creating a loving relationship between you and your child. Make learning a family affair!
Why does my child need to read books within their reading range?
Just because a child can read the words in a book does not mean the content is appropriate. The interest level of the material must be considered. Interest level is based on content - a book's themes and ideas - and indicates for which age group a book is appropriate. At school, we used your child's reading range as a guide and not in a rigid way. Teachers know their readers in class and guide them to choose books which develop their reading for pleasure.
How can I help my child to find books that would interest them?
Your child’s class teacher will explore this with them in school each week and recommend books within their AR reading range and from the school library. At home, you can visit www.arbookfind.co.uk and click ‘Advanced Search’. By conducting an advanced search, you can generate book lists that contain titles based on the criteria you enter such as book level, topic, interest level, fiction/nonfiction, etc. By choosing books this way, you will be able to choose books with an AR quiz and books in their reading range. There are over 30,000 books on the AR system and it is added to with new titles all the time.
What are points?
Every book that has an Accelerated Reader Reading Practice Quiz is given a point value. Accelerated Reader points are computed based on the difficulty of the book (ATOS readability level) and the length of the book (number of words).
Although some children have proven to benefit from competative targets, this is not an approach we are promoting in school as we feel it detracts from intrinsic motivators.
