The Accelerated Reader Program

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The Accelerated Reader Program

• By Carrie Rice Erin Atwood

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What is Accelerated Reader?

• The Accelerated Reader System provides K-12
  schools with computerized learning information
  systems. Its reading software is used in more
  than 37,500 schools, or approximately 30 percent
  of the schools in the United States and Canada.
  The company's flagship reading product, the
  Accelerated Reader program, is the most popular
  reading software in K-12 schools, with quizzes
  covering more than 19,000 literature books for
  readers of all ability levels.

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The Four Components of Accelerated Reader

1. Provides interesting books to students
2. Provides a time to read
3. Quizzes on the content of the books
4. Rewards for points earned on quizzes

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Disadvantages

• Some teachers have stopped reading books to their
  students because the computer will ask the
  questions instead.
• Class discussion of books decreases, because the
  discussion would give away the test answers.
• Students dont read books outside of the ones
  that are included in the point system.
• Some students try books beyond their reading
  level in order to earn more points to compete
  with their classmates. This causes frustration.
• Some schools include the points as part of the
  students grade.
• Some schools even tie the classs point total in
  with the teachers evaluation.

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Advantages

• Students read a larger amount of books at various
  levels as a result of incentives.
• Students push themselves to read harder books to
  earn more points.
• Due to the students reading more, most libraries
  contain a larger and newer collection of books.
• The need for a librarian is recognized more by
  faculty and administration.
• More schools use SSR/DEAR time for reading.
• Students discuss favorite authors through their
  expanded reading time.
• The computer test is a fairly accurate measure of
  whether or not the child read the book.
• Students reading scores improves.

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ATOS Readability Formula

• The Accelerated Reader uses the ATOS readability
  formula
• ATOS eliminates many of the problems teacher have
  had with other readability formulas
• It is the 1st formula to include statistics from
  actual student book-reading
• The ATOS reading formula is designed to provide a
  reading level based on the complete content of a
  book

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Quizzes

• The Accelerated Reader offers over 85,000 quizzes
• There are 6 different types of quizzes
• 1. Reading Practice Quizzes
• 2. Textbook Series Quizzes
• 3. Recorded Voice Quizzes
• 4. Literacy Skills Quizzes
• 5. Magazine Quizzes
• 6. Vocabulary Practice Quizzes

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Accelerated Reader Reports

• Accelerated Reader handles all record keeping
• It generates more than 30 information packet
  reports
• Keeps an ongoing record of what books students
  are reading, comprehension levels, amount of
  reading practice, and diagnostic information.

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Example of Reading Report
Reading Practice Accelerated Reader Friday,
09/19/03, 0844 AM Class Section 1 G1 Teacher
Mr. Pete Saylor ID 2351 Grade 1 Team
Giraffes You have answered 8 out of 10 questions
correctly on quiz number 32169 for the book Nate
the Great and the Monster Mess by Marjorie
Weinman Sharmat. Reading Practice Quiz
Results Book Level 2.9 Number Correct /
Possible 8 / 10 (80) Points Earned / Possible
0.4 / 0.5 TWI Read To F/NF Fiction Marking
Period Results to Date (45 of Marking Period
One) Marking Period Goal Average Book Level 2.6
-- Average Percent Correct 92.3 85.0 Points
Earned 6.1 -- -- Reading Practice Quizzes Passed
/ Taken 13 / 13 -- School Year Results to Date
(7 of school year) Average Book Level
2.6 Average Percent Correct 92.3 Points Earned
6.1 Reading Practice Quizzes Passed / Taken 13 /
13 Certification Level Last Certification Date
Current Certification Goal Ready Reader 9/17/2003
Independent Reader Monitor Signature Teacher
Signature Comments
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Scientific Research Shows Accelerated Reader
Improves Scores

• A large Experimental study conducted in an urban
  school district showed that students using AR and
  best practices achieved higher reading gain than
  non users.

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Scientific Research Shows Accelerated Reader
Doesnt Improve Achievement

• The Academic Journal Knowledge Quest,
  Accelerated Reader Evidence Still Lacking
  suggests that through their research they have
  discovered that there is no direct evidence that
  that AR improves achievement
• A study conducted in Mississippi showed that low
  readers in the AR program did not increase in
  achievement and higher readers actually declined
  in achievement levels

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References

• http//www.renlearn.com/ar/overview/default.htm
• http//www.indiana.edu/reading/ieo/bibs/accl-rdr.
  html
• http//www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah_chpt5_p4.ht
  ml
• Knowledge Quest v. 33. no. 3 p. 48