AR

=Accelerated Reader= toc Your child will be participating in the Accelerated Reader (AR™) program. AR is a computer program that helps teachers and librarians manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Children using AR 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.

=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 bookstore on a regular basis, letting your child see you reading, and discussing books that each of you has 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!

=How can I help my child find books that are interesting to him?= Visit [] and click on 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.

=What are points?= Every book that has an AR Reading Practice Quiz is given a point value. AR points are computed based on the difficulty of the book (ATOS readability level) and the length of the book (number of words).

For example, the Berenstain Bears books, which are about 1,000 words long and have an average ATOS book level of 3.5, are 0.5-point books. __Hank the Cowdog__, which is about 23,000 words long and has an average ATOS book level of 4.5, is a 3-point book.

__The Sun Also Rises__, about 70,000 words long and at an ATOS book level of 4.4, is a 10-point book. 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. A child needs to pass a quiz with a score of 60% or higher to earn points.

You may notice that some popular books have more points assigned to them than some classic pieces of literature. Tom Clancy’s __Executive Orders__, for example, is a 78-point book while Shakespeare’s __Macbeth__ is a 4-point book. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean we think __Executive Orders__ is a better book or more worthwhile to read than __Macbeth__, only that—at 458,453 words vs. 19,048 words—it is much longer and provides more reading practice time.

=2014 - 2015 Requirements= Your child is expected to earn the 15 AR points for each marking period for sixth grade. This year, I will offer an incentive to read independently. If a student earns 10 AR points by the dates indicated for each marking period, a bonus of 5 AR points will be rewarded to that students. This means that no more AR points will need to completed for that marking period.

Marking Period 1 - October 6 Marking Period 2 - December 15 Marking Period 3 - March 3 Marking Period 4 - May 13