What is Accelerated Reader?
At a Glance
- Accelerated Reader is a computer-based program that schools use to monitor reading practice and progress.
- It helps teachers guide kids to books that are at kids’ individual reading levels.
- Kids take short quizzes after reading a book to check if they’ve understood it.
Your child picks a book at his/her own level and reads it at their own pace. Their level has been determined by a STAR reading test that they have done at school and this gives them their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).
Zone of Proximal Development (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. This will then indicate to your child which books they should select from the library.
Each book in the school library is labelled and colour coded to include the ZPD.
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 children, teachers, and parents feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help each pupil set goals and direct ongoing reading practice.
We have a vast range of books in our school library which is populated on an ongoing basis.