The Accelerated Reader program provides a way to monitor reading comprehension and
to motivate kids to read. AR is a computerized reading program that provides tests and reporting to summarize individual progress. It is a school-administered program that is
supported by Home and School through the rewarding of prizes based upon student
achievement.
Participation in the AR subscription service has expanded our book list to include well
over 100,000 titles. Click on the link toabove to access the AR book finder. Please keep in mind that the goal is to promote a love of reading. Therefore, encourage the child to read first and foremost what they enjoy versus only those books that are on the AR list.
If the book is on the list and when your child feels ready, he/she can take a computerized
multiple choice test ranging from 5-20 questions, depending upon the reading level and
difficulty of the book. Lower level reading books (commonly read by first and second
graders) will be worth 1⁄2 or 1 point and the quizzes will have 5 or 10 questions. Then as
the book content becomes more challenging and reading level increases, point values also
increase with books worth anywhere from 2 to 50+ points. The tests are administered in
the classroom at times dictated by the teacher.
A student must correctly answer 60% of the questions in order to pass the quiz and
receive points. The total points a student receives will be the percent correct multiplied
by the maximum points for the book. For example, if a book is worth 2 points and the
student answers 8 out of 10 questions correctly (80%), the student will receive .8 x 2 or
1.6 points for that book.
In conjunction with the AR program, our committee, which is funded by Home and
School, provides rewards as a student achieves specified reading goals. Prize charts as well as dates of prize distribution can be found by clicking on the link to the right.
The student’s points are accumulated throughout the year, and when a student has
reached either 5 points (for first and second graders) or 15 points (for third, fourth and
fifth graders), he/she will start receiving incentive prizes and their name will be added to
the AR bulletin board in the hallway next to the library.
Prizes are distributed approximately every other Monday. The reports we receive are
generated on Friday prior to that week to provide us time to calculate who will be receiving
prizes.