Accelerated Reader (AR) 

Accelerated Reader a computer-based program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Once your child has picked their book and finished reading it, they will take a short quiz on a computer at school or at home. Passing the quiz is an indication that a child has understood what was read. Accelerated Reader gives children and teachers’ feedback based on the quiz results, which allows teachers to tailor their Guided Reading lessons.

The process is as follows:

• Children take a Star Reader Assessment on a computer at school. This determines each individual child’s ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development). The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) defines the readability range within which pupils should read to best develop their reading, while avoiding frustration.

• Children will take a Star Reader Assessment at the beginning of every term so teachers can adjust their ZPDs in their reading records and children can choose new books from their new ZPD.

• The children’s ZPD will be written in their reading records.  If a child has a reading ZPD for example of 3.4 – 5.6, it means they can read any book labelled between this. The lower the number the more comfortable it will be for the child to read; the higher the number the more challenging the books become for that child within that ZPD.

• The children will then select a reading book from the book corner in their classroom. However, they can also read any book from around the school from within their ZPD.

• Children then take that book home to read. Reading records should be filled in and returned to school regularly. 

• Once the children have read a whole book, they  take a quiz at school (or at home) within 48 hours, using the test for support to improve retrieval and inference skills