ACCELERATED READER
What is Accelarated Reader? (A.R.)
The Accelerated Reader (A.R.) program is an incentive program to promote reading. Students read books and then take computerized comprehension tests. Students earn points by successfully completing tests. Approximately every 6 weeks our class will visit the A.R. store to buy items with the points earned from reading books. Many students are excited about the A.R. store and saving their points.
What kind of books should my child be reading?
If your child checks out an A.R. book from the library, he/she will be able tell what the reading level is of the book by looking at the inside sticker on the book. (For example: 3.3 = 3rd grade/3rd month) Each student is given a computerized reading test to determine the grade level at which he/she reads successfully. If your child is going to read a book independently, encourage him/her to choose a book from his/her successful reading range. If you are going to read a book with or to your child, it is appropriate to read a book that is a bit higher than your child’s successful reading level. Below I have indicated your child’s independent reading range.
How do I know if books from another library or bookstore are A.R. books?
If you have access to a computer, you can obtain an A.R. book list online. (Warning! You may not want to print the list because it is over 100 pages long.) Log on to Whiteside School’s homepage. http://www.whiteside.stclair.k12.il.us/ Next, click the link that says Media Center. Then click on the blue lettering that says Accelerated Reader List. You will then see an alphabetized listing of A.R. books. If you do not have access to a computer, please write the title and author of the book in the agenda so your child can look the information up at school.
How many A.R. tests is my child required to take?
Each student will be expected to earn 3 A.R. POINTS every six weeks. If your child reads 3 books and passes A.R. tests on these books, that does not necessarily mean that he/she has earned his/her 3 POINTS for the grading period. A.R. books are worth different amounts of points. For example, a short book may only be worth 0.5 points and a longer book may be worth 3 points. Also, if a child takes a test on a book and does not get all of the answers correct, then he/she will not receive all the points that the book is worth. A student may take a test on a book worth 3 points. However, if he/she answered some of the questions incorrectly, then he/she may only earn 2.5 points. The 3 points every six weeks is a minimum requirement. I encourage every student to set a goal of reaching 50-100 points for the school year. Each month the student with the most cumulative A.R. points will have his/her name posted on the bulletin board as the “All-Star” reader of the month. This student will also receive a prize along with this recognition.
Will my child receive a grade for A.R.?
Each student will receive 2 A.R. grades each grading period. One grade will be based on the student’s completion of earning the required 3 points. The other grade will be based on the averaged percentage of A.R. test scores that the student took during the six weeks. The following is an explanation of the two A.R. grades.
Grade #1: Earning the 3 A.R. Points
3 points-or more completed: 28/28 points-100%
2.9-2.5 points completed: 24/28 points- 86%
2.4-2.0 points completed: 20/28 points- 71%
1.9-1.5 points completed: 16/28 points- 57%
1.4-1.0 points completed: 12/28 points- 43%
0.9-0.5 points completed: 8/28 points- 29%
0.5-0.1 points completed: 4/28 points- 14%
0 points completed: 0/24 points – 0%
*This grade will be considered a test grade and will be weighted 3x that of a daily assignment.
Grade #2: Averaged percentage of A.R. tests scores.
When a student takes an A.R. test, he/she is given a percentage grade for that particular test. For example, if a student answered 9 out of 10 questions correctly, then the student would receive a 90% score. So, if a student took 6 tests and received the following scores: 90%, 75%, 80%, 95%, 85%, and 80%, then his/her average would be 86%.
Scale for averaged scores:
100%=20/20 79-75%=15/20 54-50%=10/20 29-20%=5/20
99-95%=19/20 74-70%=14/20 49-45%=9/20 19-15%=4/20
94-90%=18/20 69-65%=13/20 44-40%=8/20 14-10%=3/20
89-85%=17/20 64-60%=12/20 39-35%=7/20 9-5%=2/20
84-80%=16/20 59-55%=11/20 34-30%=6/20 4-1%=1/20
*This grade will be considered a test grade and will be weighted 3x that of a daily assignment.
Additional A.R. Information:
v If your child is receiving low A.R. scores, the following could be possible reasons why this is occurring.
v The child may not be independently reading books that are in his/her reading range. (The book level is too difficult.)
o The child may be rushing through books so that he/she can take an A.R. test. (They may not be carefully reading the book.)
o Procrastination seems to be the most common problem for students when it comes to successfully completing 3 points for A.R. Even though the students have six weeks to complete the 3 points, some students wait until the last week to complete these points. Often this results in students scoring poorly on test because they are trying to read too many books in a short amount of time. A.R. can be a tool to teach students how to manage long-term assignments.
v At anytime within the six weeks you may request to know where your child stands as far A.R. points go. Write a note in the agenda and I will get the A.R. information to you.
v It is to the benefit of the student to learn how to manage his/her time to complete A.R. points. When students enter 4th grade they will be expected to earn 6 points every six weeks.
v After 3 weeks into the grading period, students with little or no points earned may be required to use some of their recess time to complete A.R. points.
v Students are allowed to take A.R. tests in the classroom, during computer class, and in the library.
If you have any questions or concerns about the A.R. program, please contact me.
Thank you,
Mrs. Strinni
[email protected]
233-0000 ext. 2232
(Thank you to the amazing teachers who have helped compile this information for parents.)
What is Accelarated Reader? (A.R.)
The Accelerated Reader (A.R.) program is an incentive program to promote reading. Students read books and then take computerized comprehension tests. Students earn points by successfully completing tests. Approximately every 6 weeks our class will visit the A.R. store to buy items with the points earned from reading books. Many students are excited about the A.R. store and saving their points.
What kind of books should my child be reading?
If your child checks out an A.R. book from the library, he/she will be able tell what the reading level is of the book by looking at the inside sticker on the book. (For example: 3.3 = 3rd grade/3rd month) Each student is given a computerized reading test to determine the grade level at which he/she reads successfully. If your child is going to read a book independently, encourage him/her to choose a book from his/her successful reading range. If you are going to read a book with or to your child, it is appropriate to read a book that is a bit higher than your child’s successful reading level. Below I have indicated your child’s independent reading range.
How do I know if books from another library or bookstore are A.R. books?
If you have access to a computer, you can obtain an A.R. book list online. (Warning! You may not want to print the list because it is over 100 pages long.) Log on to Whiteside School’s homepage. http://www.whiteside.stclair.k12.il.us/ Next, click the link that says Media Center. Then click on the blue lettering that says Accelerated Reader List. You will then see an alphabetized listing of A.R. books. If you do not have access to a computer, please write the title and author of the book in the agenda so your child can look the information up at school.
How many A.R. tests is my child required to take?
Each student will be expected to earn 3 A.R. POINTS every six weeks. If your child reads 3 books and passes A.R. tests on these books, that does not necessarily mean that he/she has earned his/her 3 POINTS for the grading period. A.R. books are worth different amounts of points. For example, a short book may only be worth 0.5 points and a longer book may be worth 3 points. Also, if a child takes a test on a book and does not get all of the answers correct, then he/she will not receive all the points that the book is worth. A student may take a test on a book worth 3 points. However, if he/she answered some of the questions incorrectly, then he/she may only earn 2.5 points. The 3 points every six weeks is a minimum requirement. I encourage every student to set a goal of reaching 50-100 points for the school year. Each month the student with the most cumulative A.R. points will have his/her name posted on the bulletin board as the “All-Star” reader of the month. This student will also receive a prize along with this recognition.
Will my child receive a grade for A.R.?
Each student will receive 2 A.R. grades each grading period. One grade will be based on the student’s completion of earning the required 3 points. The other grade will be based on the averaged percentage of A.R. test scores that the student took during the six weeks. The following is an explanation of the two A.R. grades.
Grade #1: Earning the 3 A.R. Points
3 points-or more completed: 28/28 points-100%
2.9-2.5 points completed: 24/28 points- 86%
2.4-2.0 points completed: 20/28 points- 71%
1.9-1.5 points completed: 16/28 points- 57%
1.4-1.0 points completed: 12/28 points- 43%
0.9-0.5 points completed: 8/28 points- 29%
0.5-0.1 points completed: 4/28 points- 14%
0 points completed: 0/24 points – 0%
*This grade will be considered a test grade and will be weighted 3x that of a daily assignment.
Grade #2: Averaged percentage of A.R. tests scores.
When a student takes an A.R. test, he/she is given a percentage grade for that particular test. For example, if a student answered 9 out of 10 questions correctly, then the student would receive a 90% score. So, if a student took 6 tests and received the following scores: 90%, 75%, 80%, 95%, 85%, and 80%, then his/her average would be 86%.
Scale for averaged scores:
100%=20/20 79-75%=15/20 54-50%=10/20 29-20%=5/20
99-95%=19/20 74-70%=14/20 49-45%=9/20 19-15%=4/20
94-90%=18/20 69-65%=13/20 44-40%=8/20 14-10%=3/20
89-85%=17/20 64-60%=12/20 39-35%=7/20 9-5%=2/20
84-80%=16/20 59-55%=11/20 34-30%=6/20 4-1%=1/20
*This grade will be considered a test grade and will be weighted 3x that of a daily assignment.
Additional A.R. Information:
v If your child is receiving low A.R. scores, the following could be possible reasons why this is occurring.
v The child may not be independently reading books that are in his/her reading range. (The book level is too difficult.)
o The child may be rushing through books so that he/she can take an A.R. test. (They may not be carefully reading the book.)
o Procrastination seems to be the most common problem for students when it comes to successfully completing 3 points for A.R. Even though the students have six weeks to complete the 3 points, some students wait until the last week to complete these points. Often this results in students scoring poorly on test because they are trying to read too many books in a short amount of time. A.R. can be a tool to teach students how to manage long-term assignments.
v At anytime within the six weeks you may request to know where your child stands as far A.R. points go. Write a note in the agenda and I will get the A.R. information to you.
v It is to the benefit of the student to learn how to manage his/her time to complete A.R. points. When students enter 4th grade they will be expected to earn 6 points every six weeks.
v After 3 weeks into the grading period, students with little or no points earned may be required to use some of their recess time to complete A.R. points.
v Students are allowed to take A.R. tests in the classroom, during computer class, and in the library.
If you have any questions or concerns about the A.R. program, please contact me.
Thank you,
Mrs. Strinni
[email protected]
233-0000 ext. 2232
(Thank you to the amazing teachers who have helped compile this information for parents.)