What is Accelerated Reader (A.R.)?
Accelerated Reader provides formative assessment and periodic monitoring to enhance the curriculum, support differentiated instruction, and personalize practice in reading. A.R. helps manage the daily activities for students of all ability levels. The levels are set based off of a variety of assessments taken at the beginning of the year. We use Renaissance Learning for immediate feedback in reading. A.R. is a valuable technology tool that myself and the children use daily in our classroom. Students use A.R. to take assessments on their individualized A.R. leveled books. A.R. books can be found in the library or in our classroom. The data provided helps teachers and students keep track of their comprehension and monitor students' progress on selected leveled text.

A.R. "Dot Colors" (A.R. Levels):
0.1-0.4 - Red Dot
0.5-0.9 - Grey Dot
1.0-1.4 - Yellow Dot
1.5-1.9 - Orange Dot
2.0-2.4 - Pink Dot
2.5-2.9 - Purple Dot
3.0-3.4 - Blue Dot
3.5-3.9 - Green Dot
4.0-4.4 - Brown Dot
4.5-4.9 - Black Dot

At Home:
*Please go to Renaissance Home Connect by clicking on the following link. Here you can access your child's progress in A.R. 
Renaissance Home Connect

Many parents ask how to check books that you may already have at home in order to see if the books are A.R. There is a website that you can access from home that will allow you to check your books and see what level or "dot color" the books are. This website is www.arbookfind.com. 

Monitoring A.R.
A.R. is used to monitor and motivate. After the students make approximately seven 100's on an A.R. level they are moved up to the next level or "dot color," but if I feel that they are struggling they could possibly be moved down a level.  

There are two ways that we celebrate A.R. progress in our classroom. One way, is with A.R. "Point Clubs." As students pass A.R. tests, they accumulate points. Once they reach a certain number of points, their name goes on the point club banner. The other way we celebrate A.R. progress is with A.R. beads. For every 100% that a child makes on an  A.R. test, he/she gets to put a bead on his/her necklace. At the end of the 9 weeks, all the students get to wear their necklaces to show off their progress in A.R.!