What is the Accelerated Reader Program?

The AR is a learning information system that enables freestanding, computer-assisted assessment of student comprehension of "real" books.

It facilitates

1. -more frequent and more detailed assessment in less time and with greater consistency
   

2. -- formative feedback for the student
   

- student development of metacognitive awareness

- increased student motivation to read more, longer, and harder books

- formative feedback for the teacher

- class-wide diagnostic information, including alerts regarding students who are at risk

- teacher promotion and management of effective reading practice.

AR has tests on more than 100,000 books in it's program. Maranatha currently owns 2.100 tests. The student chooses a book from our library. Each book is assigned a point value based on the number of words it contains and its reading difficulty. After reading, the student goes to the computer and take a multiple choice comprehensive test on the book's content. The computer scores the test, awards the student points based on the results and keeps a complete record of the student's progress.

Students select their own books and read at their own pace. In addition, teachers may allow students to take tests on books that are read to and with them. The software has a default setting that allows students to test on a book, only once, although this can be changed by the teacher in extenuating circumstances. If a student does not pass a test, it is probably because she has not read the book or the book was too difficult in the first place. In neither case does it make sense for the student to retake the test, since doing so can lead to a better score attained simply as a result of feedback from the first test. As students test on more books, the AR system enables close monitoring of general levels of reading performance.

STAR reading is another Renaissance Learning program available on the Elementary Computer Lab. Used only once or twice a year to assess student's reading progress in grade 1-12. It is fast, accurate and easy. Students can complete the computer-adaptive assessment in less than 10 minutes and they get accurate, reliable, norm-referenced reading level scores immediately.

Accelerated Reader Program