Accelerated Reader

Accelerated Reader at Malvern Wells.

A Guide for Parents.

What is Accelerated Reader?

• A powerful tool to monitor and manage independent reading and home reading after Read Write Inc
• A system that combines assessment, producing a reading score and breadth, with a wide range of books ensuring all children can read broadly within their ability.

What are the benefits of Accelerated Reader?

• Provides children with opportunity to grow and develop reading skill and pleasure
• Gives children independence to select their own books from a centralised but banded area
• Motivates children to read for pleasure
• Specific to children’s individual reading attainment and links directly with the National Curriculum

Why change our reading system?

• We are committed to ensuring all children have every opportunity to learn to love reading
• It strengthens teacher and parent monitoring and evaluation to move children forward in their reading whilst ensuring they are able to read a wide range of texts at their ability.

How does it work?

• Children complete the STAR reading test at school
• This gives them a Zone of Proximal Development (this is the zone within which children will make the most progress and provide optimal growth without frustration) e.g. 3.4-5.1
• The higher the decimal score the harder the book – old banding systems are gone and do not correlate
• Children select a book (at first at the lower end of their ZPD to begin to develop fluency and build on challenge and previous skills) – read it
• School and parents support and encourage the reading of the book regularly and discuss the books
• Ideally, a quiz will be taken at home 24-48 hours after they complete the book
• Analyse their score (child/teacher/parent) and make decisions about the next book – 80% or above
• Return book back and select new book within decimal bracket

How can you help at home?

• Reading at home at least 5 days a week for  10-20 minutes (listening to your child where age appropriate)
• Talk to your child about their book and develop their understanding
• Sign their diary to acknowledge that they have read every day
• Ensure your child carries out the quizzes for most books they read
• Ensuring children bring books back to school in good condition
• Talk to your child/children about books – your own preferences and, when possible, let them see you as a reader.

Our unique Accelerated Reader website is:

https://ukhosted35.renlearn.co.uk/6711199/default.aspx

Your child has logged on to our website and completed their baseline assessment. Their log in details are in the front of their reading diaries.