aiming to offer the children a wide range of literature to
encourage them to read more.

Initially, children (at the discretion of our staff) will take a STAR Reading assessment that uses computer-adaptive technology. Questions continually adjust to your child’s responses. If the child’s response is correct, the difficulty level is increased. If the child misses a question, the difficulty level is reduced. The test uses multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

After undertaking this assessment the class teacher is then provided with a range of information related to your child’s reading ability. This includes: their reading age, the difficulty range of books that your child should be reading (ZPD - Zone of Proximal Development) and how children can be supported to improve their reading comprehension.

In independent literature-based reading, ZPD is the range of books that will challenge a child without causing frustration or loss of motivation. Your child will receive a ZPD range after taking a STAR Reading test. It’s important for children to read with a high degree of comprehension and within their ZPDs. Their ZPD is stored in “myON” to allow the system to automatically suggest books in this “Goldilocks Zone”).

After completing the STAR Reading Test, your child picks a book at their own level and reads it at their own pace. When finished, your child is then able to take a short quiz on the computer or iPad. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.) Accelerated Reader gives children and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help your child set goals and direct on-going reading practise.

Children using Accelerated Reader choose their own books to read, rather than having one assigned to them. This makes reading a much more enjoyable experience as they can choose books that are interesting to them. Teachers help your child choose books at an appropriate readability level that are challenging without being frustrating, ensuring that your child can pass the quiz and experience success.

If your child does not do well on the quiz, the teacher may help your child:
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- Choose another book that is more appropriate.
- Ask more probing questions as your child reads and before your child takes a quiz.
- Pair your child with another student, or even have the book read to your child.

In most cases, children really enjoy taking the quizzes. Since they’re reading books at their reading and interest levels, they are likely to be successful. This is satisfying for most children. Best of all, they learn and grow at their own pace.

According to research, children who read at least 35 minutes a day with a 90% comprehension rate (average percent correct) on AR quizzes see the greatest gains. Therefore, ideally, your child should have at least 35 minutes set aside for reading each day. However, we know life can get busy. Even 20 minutes daily would make a huge difference.

As with anything, performance improves with practise. Encourage your child to read at home. Create a culture of reading in your household by reading with your child, starting a home library, visiting your local library or bookstore on a regular basis, letting your child see you reading, and discussing books that each of you has read. When reading with your child, stop and ask questions to be sure your child is comprehending what is read. Reading with your child, no matter what the child’s age, is an important part of developing a good reader, building a lifelong love of reading and learning, and creating loving relationship between you and your child. Make learning a family affair!

Parents may be concerned that children are unfairly compared to each other. Accelerated Reader allows Dynamic Learning staff to work with each child individually. Children are encouraged to progress at their own pace and set their own goals with the help of the teacher. The aim of Accelerated Reader is for all children to succeed in achieving their goals.

Accelerated Reader goals are set using a points system. Goals/targets are set using a child’s ZPD level and the time provided for reading practise, this ensures each child’s target is personalised and relevant to their individual ability in reading. Each child will receive a new personalised goal/target at the start of each term. Children are able to track their progress each time they log in to Accelerated Reader.

very book that has an Accelerated Reading Practice Quiz is given a point value. Points are computed based on the difficulty of the book (ATOS readability level) and the length of the book (number of words).

For example, the Horrid Henry books, which are about 5,135 words long and have an average ATOS book level of 3.3, are 1.0-point books. Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone is 77,325 words long and has an average ATOS book level of 6.0, is a 12-point book.

Children earn points, or a portion of a book’s points, depending on how well they do on the Reading Practise Quiz.

There are over 160,000 Accelerated Reader quizzes available!!!

At the launch of Accelerated Reader, we shared with children that we wished to reward those children who achieved their goal/target points at the end of each school term. Each class worked with their class teacher to decide on how their class wished to celebrate.

Even if a child is gifted at playing a musical instrument, they have to practice to
develop their talent. Gifted children, like all children, need to be challenged.Teachers using Accelerated Reader are able to guide each student to books that
give the child both challenge and success, regardless of the child’s level.

Accelerated Reader helps all children become better readers, from students with
special needs to those who are gifted and talented. When children read books at an
appropriate level, they experience success. Furthermore, teachers work with children
to set appropriate goals based on each child’s reading level.

Accelerated Reader helps all children become better readers, from students with
special needs to those who are gifted and talented. When children read books at an
appropriate level, they experience success. Furthermore, teachers work with children
to set appropriate goals based on each child’s reading level.

There are two different ways students can take Accelerated Reader quizzes at
school: on the computer or on a device. Quizzing from home is not usually
suggested but time is short during our lessons and the children are not with us each
day. Therefore, we allow the children to take the quizzes at home. Please, do not
help or support your child when they take the quiz. This way we have more accurate
ideas of how your child is progressing. Your child needs to take a quiz within 24
hours of completing their book, where possible. Children may take quizzes of books
they have read at home but should make sure they have read and understood each
book before completing a quiz.

No. There are many, many choices of books at your child’s level. Your child will
never be forced to read a book you find questionable.

If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me:

ruth.milne@dynamic-learning.ch
WhatsApp or Text:
079 632 3944

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- guiding them to books appropriate to their ability and interests
- challenging them to read a wider range of stories
- providing opportunities for your child to read, share reading or be read to

Since children are reading books at their own reading and interest levels, most children are likely to be successful and enjoy the books and quizzes. Best of all, they learn and grow at their own pace.

As with anything, performance improves with practice. According to Renaissance Learning’s Research (the creators of AR), children who read at least twenty minutes a day, with a 90% comprehension rate on AR quizzes, see the greatest gains. Please encourage your child to read at home, discuss their books with them, ask questions about what they have read and visit your local library.

STAR Reading is used to determine your child’s reading level. It is a computer-based reading assessment programme that uses computer- adaptive technology. Questions continually adjust to your child’s responses. If the child’s response is correct, the difficulty level is increased. If the child
cannot answer a question or answers incorrectly, the difficulty level is reduced. The test uses multiple choice questions and takes approximately twenty minutes. The STAR reading test will be used to determine your child’s book level.

Inside each book, there is a Book Level (BL) on a white sticker. Book Levels are reported using the ATOSTM readability formula and represent the difficulty of the text. The levels range from 0.5–13.5. Books are chosen based on the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) range recommended for each pupil by the results of their initial STAR Reading assessment.

What is Interest Level?

On the sticker inside the book, there is LY (Lower Years, ages 5-8), MY (Middle Years, ages 9- 13) or UY (Upper Years, ages 14+). The Interest Level indicates for which age group a book is appropriate, based on the content and themes. These are recommendations only and teachers and parents are advised to use their best judgement when guiding pupils.

On the sticker, there is a quiz number for each book. In AR, there is a database of over 25,000 book quizzes, with more being added every week. Soon after completing a book, children log-in to AR at school and enter the quiz number. There are ten questions, written at a reading level suitable for what has been read, for the child to answer in school time. There are times when a child is capable of reading a book at a far higher level than they are comprehending. Ultimately, this will hinder progress. The quiz will enable teachers to check understanding easily and frequently. This quiz mshould be completed at school, and shouldn’t be completed at home.

Accelerated Reader provides instant feedback for pupils and tracks all scores. Teachers monitor quiz results and provide encouragement and guidance. Students try to average 85% or above on their comprehension
quizzes. This indicates good comprehension and will lead to greater progress in reading ability.

Children can continue to choose a book from school. However, you may wish to use your local library or books from home with the programme. AR Book Finder can be accessed directly via the link at the bottom right of the Home Connect screen. Parents and children can carry out a quick search to
see if a book has an AR quiz, or use an advanced search to check for booksat a certain level or a particular genre or topic. For example, the search facility means that you can see if there is a quiz for a book that a child owns at home. Alternatively, if you are encouraging your child to read a wider range of books, then you can search for one with, for example, a historical or futuristic setting.

Different aspects of AR will motivate different children. For some, seeing an increasing word count will be encouraging; the number of words in each book and each quiz are added to a running total. Who will be the first to a million words? Once the system is in place, we will be able to celebrate with children as they meet their own specific goals (e.g. reading a wider range of books than before, reading more regularly or challenging themselves to learn new vocabulary found in their reading).

With any new system, there are bound to be a few initial problems. We have begun to label our books and there is a chance that one or two have accidentally been mislabelled. Please do let us know if you spot any
mistakes, in order for us to rectify these quickly. We will publish further information, top tips and answers to frequently asked questions in our weekly newsletter and on the website over the coming weeks. Thank you in advance for your support in this matter.

1. Your child will choose a book within their individual book level range. Each book in school is labelled with a book level number.
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2. Your child will read their book.
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3. Soon after finishing the book, your child will log-on to the school AR site. Link below.

https://ukhosted67.renlearn.co.uk/7821763
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4. Inside their book, there will be a sticker with a quiz number. They must type this number in the AR website search bar, and then tick the relevant box (I have been read to, I have shared reading or I have read independently). Your child will then answer the questions about the book.
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5. After the quiz, the child receives instant feedback.
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6. Your child will then choose another book within their range. They may use the Book Finder at the bottom of the screen for ideas about what to read next, or simply finding one with an appropriate sticker in school. Home books may be read too; just type the title in Book Finder to find out if it is listed and what level the book is.

If you find yourself in a bookshop and would like to choose an appropriate
level of book for your child, you can use the following website to help:It is useful to know your child’s current ZPD (zone) to choose a book they could read comfortably.



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