Accelerated
Reading
Accelerated
Reading (AR) is a program that we use to supplement our reading
curriculum. It allows the students to individualize their learning
by reading books at their own reading level.
Second
grade is the first year that all students in the class are in the
program from the beginning of the school year. Here is some
information that might help you better understand the program. If
you have any questions, feel free to contact me or the school
librarian, Mrs. Dennett.
*
Each student is given a STAR test twice a year to determine his or
her reading levels- at the beginning of the school year and at the
beginning of the third quarter. The test, taken in the computer
lab, consists of 25 questions in which the student uses context
clues to fill in a missing word in a sentence. This helps
determine the vocabulary level that the student will be successful
at reading and comprehending independently.
* Once
a reading level has been established, students are working on two
"goals" simultaneously: a Quarter Goal and a Certificate
Goal.
*
A student's Quarter Goal is set by the librarian. In second grade,
a typical goal may be to earn around 8 points. The books at this
age are usually worth 0.5 point to 1 point. A child that scores a
100% on the book read will receive the full point value of the
book; a score of 80% will receive 80% of the book value, and so
on. We keep track in the classroom of how each student is
progressing towards meeting his or her Quarter Goal on a special
bulletin board. The children really work hard to meet their goals.
In second grade this is not recorded on report cards.
* Students
are also working towards Certificate Goals. There are 6 levels of
AR certificates (Independent Reader, Rising Reader, Super Reader,
Advanced Reader, Star Reader and Classic Reader), and there are
several numerical levels within those certificate levels (i.e.
Rising Reader 2, Super Reader 3, etc.).
These are the guidelines
for advancing through the certificate levels:
| Independent Reader |
Student must independently read at
least 3 books with 1.2 or higher book level and accumulate 10
points.
|
|
Rising Reader |
Student must
independently read at least 3 books with 1.6 or higher book level
and accumulate 10 points. There are 3-4 levels of Rising Reader.
|
| Super
Reader |
Student must
independently read at least 3 books with 2.0 or higher book
level that are worth at least 1 point each. There are 10
levels of Super Reader.
|
| Advanced
Reader |
Student must
independently read at least 3 books with 3.0 or higher book
level that are worth at least 2 points each. There are 10
levels of Advanced Reader.
|
| Star
Reader |
Student must
independently read at least 3 books with 4.0 or higher book
level that are worth at least 4 points each. There are 10
levels of Star Reader.
|
| Classic
Reader |
Student must
independently read at least 3 books with 6.0 or higher book
level that are worth at least 7 points each. This level has
an unlimited amount of levels. :)
|
***
It
is important to understand that a student can be meeting a
Quarter Goal, but not be reaching a new
Certificate Goal if he or she is not reading at the required book
level or point value level.
|
to
Parents Page |
 |
|
