Past pupil Kenny Bruce gave St MacNissi’s a massive boost in November 2019 by agreeing to sponsor the introduction of a new Accelerated Reader programme.
The school approached Mr Bruce and following discussions, Mr Bruce generously agreed to donate £13,000 to allow the introduction of the programme for a five year period!
Mr Bruce, along with his mother and step father, Mr and Mrs Barlow attended the school for a cheque presentation along with Governors Mrs McCullough and Mrs Culleton, and Literacy co-ordinator/VP Mr Oakes.
Mr Bruce, who attended St. Joseph’s from 1980-88 (and brother Michael from 1979-1987), said “We are delighted to support this initiative, we think it’s wonderful. It is fabulous to see St. MacNissi’s Primary School embracing this innovative programme to support Literacy, and we look forward to seeing it develop over the next five years”.
The programme will be rolled out after meticulous preparations, the purchase of additional resources and staff training.
The photos below show our new AR library space, and how it has been transformed from a messy storage area to a full AR library.
What Is Accelerated Reader?
Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at his/her own level and reads it at his/her own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.) Accelerated Reader gives both children and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help your child set targets and direct ongoing reading practice.
Children using Accelerated Reader choose their own books to read, rather than having one assigned to them. This makes reading a much more enjoyable experience as they can choose books that are interesting to them.
Teachers and other school staff help your child choose books at an appropriate reading level that are challenging without being frustrating, ensuring that your child can pass the quiz and experience success.
If your child does not do well on a quiz, the teacher may help him/her:
• Choose another book that is more appropriate.
• Ask more probing questions as your child reads and before taking a quiz.
• Pair your child with another student, or even have the book read to your child.
• In most cases, children really enjoy taking the quizzes. Since they are reading books at their reading and
interest levels, they are likely to be successful. This is satisfying for most children. Best of all, they
learn and grow at their own pace.
How much will my child read during the school day?
According to research, children who read at least 20 minutes a day with a 90% comprehension rate (average percentage correct) on Accelerated Reader quizzes see the greatest gains. Therefore, your child will have at least 20 minutes set aside for reading during each school day.
How can I help my child become a better reader?
As with anything, performance improves with practice. Encourage your child to read at home. Create a culture of reading in your household by reading with your child, starting a home library, visiting your local library or bookshop on a regular basis, letting your child see you reading and discussing books that each of you have read. When reading with your child, stop and ask questions to be sure your child is comprehending what is read. Reading with your child, no matter what the child’s age, is an important part of developing a good reader, building a lifelong love of reading and learning and creating a loving relationship between you and your child. Make learning a family affair!
What if my child does not like reading?
Using Accelerated Reader, your child will choose the books he/she wants to read. The teacher will make certain the book is at the right level so that after completing the book, your child should do well on the Accelerated Reader Reading Practice Quiz. Success on the quiz will encourage your child to read more. With guidance from the teacher and success, even students who say they do not like reading will develop a love of reading.
Will my child have to read a book I do not want him/her to read?
No. There are many choices of books at your child’s level. He/she will never be forced to read a book you find questionable.
I am concerned that my child will be unfairly compared to others.
Then you will really like Accelerated Reader because it helps the teacher work with each child individually. Students using Accelerated Reader are encouraged to progress at their own pace and set their own targets with the help of the teacher. The aim of Accelerated Reader is for all children to succeed in achieving their targets.
How does the school determine my child’s reading level?
Teachers determine your child’s reading level in one of three ways: a Star Reading test, a reading age estimation from a standardised test or by using their best professional judgment based on their knowledge of your child.
What is a Star Reading test?
Star Reading is a computerised reading assessment that uses computer-adaptive technology. Questions continually adjust to your child’s responses. If the child’s response to a question is correct, the difficulty level of the next question is increased. If the child misses a question, the difficulty level of the next question is reduced. The test uses multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 20 minutes.
What is an ATOS book level?
Book levels are reported using the ATOS readability formula and represent the difficulty of the text. For example, an ATOS book level of 4.5 means that the text could likely be read by a student whose reading skills are at the level of a typical fifth-year student.
What is a Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
In independent literature-based reading, ZPD is the range of books that will challenge a child without causing frustration or loss of motivation. Your child will receive a ZPD range after taking a Star Reading test, or teachers can use their best professional judgment to determine a ZPD. It is important for children to read with a high degree of comprehension and within their ZPDs. ZPDs should be adjusted based on the needs of your child.
What are points?
Every book that has an Accelerated Reader Reading Practice Quiz is given a point value. Accelerated Reader points are computed based on the difficulty of the book (ATOS readability level) and the length of the book (number of words).
Children earn points, or a portion of a book’s points, depending on how well they do on the Reading Practice Quiz. For example, a child who takes a 5-question quiz on a book worth 1 point will earn 1 point for 5 correct answers (100%), 0.8 point for 4 correct answers (80%), etc. A child who reads a book worth 5 points and takes a 10-question quiz will earn 5 points for 10 correct answers (100%), 4.5 points for 9 correct answers (90%), etc. For quizzes with 3, 5 or 10 questions, a child needs to pass a quiz with a score of 60% or higher to earn points. For quizzes with 20 questions, a child needs to pass with a score of 70% or higher to earn points.
You may notice that some popular books have more points assigned to them than some classic pieces of literature. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, for example, is a 44-point book, while Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a 4-point book. Keep in mind that this does not mean we think Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a better book or more worthwhile to read than Macbeth, only that, at 257,154 words versus 19,048 words, it is much longer and provides more reading practice time.
Based on extensive research, we can provide guidelines for the approximate number of Accelerated Reader points children should be able to earn depending on how much time they read and their reading level. Monitoring Accelerated Reader points earned by children and comparing them to the guideline values enables your child’s teacher to determine how well your child is using the time provided for reading practice. If the school has Star Reading, students’ scores will be accessible in Accelerated Reader, making it easier for teachers to set point targets for students.
How many Accelerated Reader quizzes are there?
There are over 30,000 Accelerated Reader quizzes available, with more being written every month.
What kinds of quizzes are there?
Accelerated Reader includes several types of quizzes designed to support the development of several reading skills. Quiz types include:
• Reading Practice Quizzes are the most common type of assessment in Accelerated Reader. The purpose of these quizzes is to determine whether your child has read a book, to measure your child’s literal comprehension of the book and to provide immediate feedback. Each Reading Practice Quiz consists of 3, 5, 10 or 20 multiple-choice questions depending on book level and length.
• Recorded Voice Quizzes are designed for beginning readers and students learning English. They are professionally recorded by a narrator who reads the quiz questions and answer choices as they appear on screen.
• Vocabulary Practice Quizzes measure a child’s command of vocabulary words encountered while reading. They are designed to reinforce vocabulary acquisition, assist with individualising vocabulary instruction and generate your child’s interest in words through authentic, in-context literature experiences. Quizzes include 5, 10 or 15 words from a particular book as well as review words from previously read books.
• Literacy Skills Quizzes are designed to give your child’s teacher information on specific reading skills.
Questions are randomly generated from a 36- or 60-item bank resulting in 12 or 24 quiz questions. Due to item-bank technology, Literacy Skills Quizzes can be taken up to three times. Quiz questions are based on 24 specific, higher-order reading comprehension skills.
How will I know if a book has an Accelerated Reader quiz?
To know which quizzes your school has available, contact your child’s teacher or school office. You can also visit Accelerated Reader Bookfinder at http://www.arbookfind.co.uk to conduct a search of all available books with Accelerated Reader quizzes.
How can I help my child find books that are interesting to him or her?
Visit http://www.arbookfind.co.uk and click Advanced Search. By conducting an advanced search, you can generate book lists that contain titles based on the criteria you enter such as book level, topic, interest level, fiction/nonfiction, etc.
My child’s teacher put a book list on the web. How do I access it?
Go to Accelerated Reader BookFinder at http://www.arbookfind.co.uk. Enter the keycode that the teacher gave to your child and click Go to access the Teacher List created by your child’s teacher.
Is it OK for my child to read outside of his/her reading level?
Just because a child can read the words in a book does not mean the content is appropriate. The interest level of the material must be considered. Interest level is based on content – a book’s themes and ideas – and indicates for which age group a book is appropriate. The chart below shows which ages fall into each interest level.
Interest Level Year Level
LY – Lower Years Ages 5-8
MY – Middle Years Ages 9-13
MY+ – Middle Years Plus Ages 12 and above
UY – Upper Years Ages 14 and above
These are recommendations. It is the responsibility of teachers, school staff and parents to use their best judgment when guiding children to appropriate books.
In many cases, a book’s interest level coordinates with its book level.
Many books, however, have a low book level but are appropriate for upper years and vice versa. For example, both Oscar, Cat-About-Town by James Herriot and Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman have a book level of 4.0 since both have short sentences and vocabulary that is simple. Noughts & Crosses is intended for older students; therefore, it is tagged as Upper Years, while Oscar, Cat About-Town is tagged as Lower Years.
My child already does well in school. Why does he/she need this?
Even if a child is gifted at playing a musical instrument, the child has to practice to develop his or her talent. Bright children, like all children, need to be challenged. Teachers using Accelerated Reader software in their classrooms find it easy to guide each student to books that give the child both challenge and success, regardless of the child’s level.
My child is not a strong reader. Can he/she still use Accelerated Reader?
Accelerated Reader helps all children become better readers, from students with special needs to those who are gifted and talented. When children read books at an appropriate level, they experience success. Furthermore, teachers work with children to set appropriate targets based on each child’s reading level.
How will I know how my child is doing?
A TOPS Report is available after a child takes a quiz for feedback on your child’s understanding of the book and shows cumulative data for the marking period and school year. The TOPS Report may be sent home with your child. You can review the report, sign it and send it back to school with your child.
You can access your child’s Accelerated Reader information in Renaissance Home Connect from a computer with web access. You must first gain access to the program from the school. Once in the program, you can view your child’s progress toward targets, points and books read to monitor your child’s success. You can only access information about your child.
You can also access Accelerated Reader Bookfinder to search for titles of interest.
What if I have more than one child using Accelerated Reader?
If you have more than one child in your home using Accelerated Reader, you can only see information for the child whose user name and password you use. You must request access to the information for each of your children.
What if I have questions about using Renaissance Home Connect?
After logging in, click Help in the upper right-hand corner or contact the school.
