STAR Reading

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STAR Reading Accelerated Reader
Tools to improve and promote reading for all
students
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What is STAR?

• The STAR Reading computer-adaptive reading test
  and database is an achievement-level learning
  information system that provides teachers with
  accurate reading scores for students in grades
  1-12 in 10 minutes.
• It offers sound estimates of students reading
  levels relative to national norms. It is not
  intended to be used as a high-stakes test
  wherein the main function is to report
  end-of-the-period performance to parents and
  administrators, or to determine eligibility for
  promotion.
• It is designed to make it easier to fine-tune
  instruction while there is still time to improve
  performance before the regular testing cycle.

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Why do we need STAR?

• Star is one way to identify the strengths and
  weaknesses in students reading performance and
  allow teachers and parents to provide additional
  help.

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REMEMBER

• As with any test, the scores represent estimates
  of a students true ability level. Test scores
  are not absolute or exact measures of
  performance. A single test score is not
  infallible in the information it provides. It is
  to be used along with observations, and other
  assessments.

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FACTS

• Reading is a skill. The more you do it, the
  better you become. The better you become, the
  less effort it takes, the more you can do and you
  enjoy it more!
• Reading comprehension is the principal reading
  problem, not the mechanics of learning to read.
• Practice makes the skill of reading automatic so
  that the brain is able to handle comprehension
  and construct meaning from the text.

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More Facts

• Without comprehension, there is no joy in reading
  and no motivation to read.
• Increased reading practice will develop better
  readers and lead to increased performance on
  standardized tests in all areas.
• Lack of reading practice is the major cause of
  low reading skills.

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• To become a truly accomplished reader, it is
  not enough to become automatic using a 500 word
  vocabulary. One needs to become automatic with a
  vocabulary of 50,000 or more words. This
  requires repeated exposure to less frequent and
  more difficult words in a meaningful context.

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• A student will not become a proficient 12th-
  grade-level reader by reading only 4th grade
  books. On the other hand, exposing a 4th-grade
  reader to 12th grade books is equally ineffective
  if the student cannot understand what he or she
  is reading.
• This results in frustration and a dislike of
  reading.

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• The level at which a student is being
  challenged by exposure to new vocabulary and
  concepts without being frustrated is the zone of
  proximal development (ZPD). ZPD is the range of
  book levels found on the Accelerated Reader
  Reading Practice Quiz List. Reading at this
  level of practice will promote maximum
  development and pleasure.

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Purpose

• The entire purpose of the STAR Reading test is to
  give students, parents and teachers the correct
  reading level to allow for the least frustration,
  the most enjoyment, and the most progress in
  improving reading skills.

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• Students should be doing most of their reading
  in their ZPD.
• This does not mean students should not ever
  read out of their ZPD. We should always reread
  old favorites and may wish to read books above
  our level, but the most progress will be made
  within the correct ZPD.

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How does Accelerated Reader work with STAR?

• Accelerated Reader (AR) is a computerized
  reading management system. Students select a
  book to read from a recommended book list. The
  AR system assigns a point value to each book
  based on the number of words in the book and its
  reading level, using a well-known readability
  index. The index considers the number of
  syllables in words and sentence complexity.

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• Once the student reads a chosen book, he or she
  goes to the computer and takes a test on the book
  read. The tests are only available on the school
  network.
• The test is five, ten, or twenty objective
  questions about important facts in the book.
• The computer scores the test, awards points based
  on test performance and keeps a record of test
  results.

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• For a book worth 10 Accelerated Reader points, a
  student would receive ten points for a score of
  100 percent, nine points for 90 percent, etc.
• Careful test writing and security features
  provide for a fairly accurate measure of the
  quantity of words read and comprehended and
  provide an accurate measure of reading practice.

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• Students are most successful on tests if they
  read carefully and then take the test immediately
  (or within a few days) of reading the book.
  Details in the books are still fresh in their
  minds.

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Questions?

• How can I find out what tests are available?
• Check the website for your school library, or
  ask for a list at your local public library.

Other Questions?
Please feel free to contact your school librarian
or your school reading teacher.
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Source

• Information in these slides was taken from the
  promotional literature of Renaissance Learning,
  the company producing STAR and Accelerated
  Reader
• Prepared by Mary Colucci, Librarian
• Eagle Ridge Middle School,
• 42901 Waxpool Rd.
• Ashburn, VA 20148-4526