Accelerated Reader

Accelerated Reader at Southborough C of E Primary School

 “Our primary purpose is to accelerate learning for all children, of all ability levels and ethnic and social backgrounds, worldwide.”

    - Mission Statement, Renaissance Learning UK

What are the benefits of reading for pleasure?

• Children who say they enjoy reading for pleasure are more likely to score well on reading assessments compared to pupils who said they enjoyed reading less
• There is some evidence to show that reading for pleasure is a more important determinant of children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status
• It can have a positive impact on pupils’ emotional and social behaviour
• It can have a positive impact on text comprehension and grammar.

What works in improving independent reading?

• An important factor in developing reading for pleasure is providing choice - choice and interest are highly related
• Parents and the home environment are essential to the early teaching of reading and fostering a love of reading; children are more likely to continue to be readers in homes where books and reading are valued
• Reading for pleasure is strongly influenced by relationships between teachers and children, and children and families.

What is Accelerated Reader?

Accelerated Reader (AR) is a really effective software tool used by an increasing number of schools to foster reading growth. It encourages students to read widely and independently whilst allowing teachers to monitor progress and support where necessary.

The programme is designed to work out a reading level (or STAR reading level) for students at the start (by means of a STAR test, completed in school every half term). Children then read books within this level – all books in the library that are registered with AR have a coloured star label on the spine to help them recognise books within their ‘zone’.  Children take a quiz on the website after reading each book to assess how well they understood it. Their STAR level is tested every other term to see how they have progressed.

As well as being about promoting reading and academic achievement, AR is also about enjoyment of reading and creating a real culture of reading at Southborough C of E Primary School.

Who takes part in AR at Southborough C of E School?

All students in Years 2 - 6 take part, with children in Year 2 accessing books levelled in this way as soon as they are ready.

When does AR start?

Year 2 students will begin AR in the first term, through reading lessons. The children’s class teacher will introduce and explain the programme and introduce STAR reading levels.  

How does the Discovery Centre support AR?

Alongside our vast selection of CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) core books, there is a section of books within our Discovery Centre which are colour banded based on the children’s reading level. Every week, Reading Ambassadors (two children from each class) visit our Discovery Centre with their class teacher and carefully select books based on their peers’ interests and levels. These books are then shared in the classroom reading areas where children select books to read and quiz on.

How and when should students change their books or take quizzes?

After children have read their book, they then take a quiz on that book. This quiz can be taken at home or in school using their normal AR login and this link: 

https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/6704864

They then change their book for a new book within their ZPD level.

If you have any questions or would like some support with improving your child’s reading, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher.