Accelerated Reader
Shrubland Street Primary School is proud to now be an Accelerated Reading (AR) School. All pupils in Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enrolled on the program. We believe that with our commitment to the scheme and your support at home we will vast improvements in our reading and academic achievement.
Why do we want pupils to read?
- Regular reading improves comprehension (the ability to read text, process it and understand its meaning), concentration, broadens vocabulary and boosts academic success.
- Reading becomes faster and more fluent.
- Research shows that children who read for pleasure are likely to do significantly better at school than their peers.
- It can have a positive impact on pupil’s social and emotional behaviour.
- Imagination is stimulated.
- ‘Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body’ – Joseph Addison.
What is Accelerated Reader?
Accelerated Reader is a really effective software tool used to monitor reading. It enables students of all abilities to improve their reading and comprehension skills by guiding them to books at an appropriate level for them.
Pupils take a STAR test to establish their STAR reading level. Students then read books within this level. AR Fiction books are organised by their reading level in the library and around school in the book nooks. Pupils take a quiz on the website after reading each book to assess how well they understood it. AR then gives pupils and teachers feedback based on the quiz results which the teacher then uses to help the child set targets and ongoing reading practice.
The more a child reads, the more quizzes they pass leading to a sense of success and achievement.
How much should my child read a day?
Renaissance Learning’s research has revealed that children who read for more than 20 minutes a day with a 90% comprehension rate on AR quizzes see the greatest gains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read my own books from home?
Yes, but it is important that they are at the right level. Use the book finder website to check if the book is on the scheme. Make a record of the quiz number and complete the quiz once the book has been read.
Can I do quizzes on books at home?
No, quizzes are done at school!