Accelerated Reader
Eastlands is an Accelerated Reader school. The programme began here in 2013 and is embedded into our reading culture and practice. Our children join the AR programme upon completing their phonics learning using Read Write Inc.
AR is a powerful tool for monitoring and managing independent reading practice. With AR, teachers can create a reading programme to meet the needs of every child.
Accelerated Reader produces “particularly positive effects” according to an independent study by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and Durham University.
The website states that, “The internet-based programme increased the reading age of pupils by three additional months in just 22 weeks”.
Using information generated by the software, teachers can help children select books that are difficult enough to keep them challenged, but not too difficult to cause frustration. In addition, it helps teachers to monitor children's vocabulary growth, literacy skills development and reading skills taught through other reading schemes.
Research-based recommendations underpin the best practices for Accelerated Reader implementation. The importance of daily personalised reading practice cannot be overstated. Recent studies indicate that when students spend 25 minutes a day reading suitably challenging books which they successfully comprehend (demonstrated by achieving 90% or more on the reading practice quiz), then they will achieve optimal reading age growth. This is the power of personalised practice.
Key Features
Accelerated Reader (AR) is the practice component of a comprehensive reading programme. It allows personalised practice and provides the data needed to manage that practice.
With over 37,000 reading practice quizzes available on books from over 300 publishers and imprints, every child can select books of an appropriate difficulty that also interest them. Children take fun motivational quizzes to test their comprehension of the books they have read, aiming for benchmarks and targets set by their teachers through AR’s extensive reporting capabilities.
Motivate students for learning. Self-selected reading at the optimal level results in success, which spurs enthusiasm. Children are motivated to read constantly – in class, at break times and at home.
Receive reliable, objective information. The data generated by AR covers reading comprehension, vocabulary development, literacy skills development, and more. AR provides teachers with immediate information, helping them monitor the reading level and comprehension skills of each child and inform further instruction or intervention.
Involve parents with reading. Children and parents get instant feedback to help motivate success with the use of TOPS reports and Renaissance Home Connect™, which allows parents to view their children’s progress from home.
Keep all students challenged. Children are guided to books where the difficulty is neither too hard nor too easy – the level at which optimal learning takes place.
To access the AR Webpage click HERE
