What is Accelerated Reading (AR)?

• AR is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Students are able to pick a book at their own level and read it at their own pace. When finished, students take a short quiz on the computer. Passing the quiz is an indication that the child understood what was read.

• Accelerated Reader gives students and teachers feedback based on quiz results, which can then be used to help the child set goals and direct ongoing reading practice. As students continually take quizzes, teachers are able to determine an Independent Reading level.

• Children using AR choose their own books to read, rather than having one assigned to them. This makes reading a much more enjoyable experience and gives young readers control of their reading choices!

What is STAR Reading?

• Star Reading is an online reading assessment that uses computer-adaptive technology to provide a diagnostic reading level. Questions answered continually adjust to the student’s responses. If the response is correct, the difficulty level is increased. If the question is answered incorrectly, the difficulty level is reduced. The program is used to determine a student’s overall reading level as well as identify each student's individual strengths and weaknesses. It is designed to provide teachers with individual student data, quickly and accurately.

How does STAR Reading work in conjunction with Accelerated Reading?

• STAR Reading provides baseline data on each student’s reading achievement. In addition to reporting a student’s overall reading ability, STAR Reading gives a range of book levels for each student—a ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development.) The ZPD is based on a student’s grade-equivalent (GE) score and is a personalized starting place for reading practice giving students their “just right” reading level.

• Teachers using STAR Reading and AR are able to personalize reading practice with individual point goals for each student. Students are able to work towards reasonable, realistic, and fair point goals using their reading practice to achieve them. This allows teachers to measure a student's ability to set and achieve goals as noted on the report card.

What more can these products do?

• Teachers can access resources available through Accelerated Reader for use in small groups to further advance reading levels and address specific skills identified by the STAR Reading assessments. This allows teachers to differentiate lessons to meet the needs of ALL our students including special education students, dyslexic/dysgraphic students, and our gifted/talented students.

• Star Reading and Accelerated Reader program has proven to be a valuable resource in determining each child's reading level and allows teachers to monitor and track progress.  It reduces the amount of time needed to complete beginning of year reading assessments allowing a faster start on reading intervention and enrichment.

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