Accelerated Reader

[Readytomakechanges]

Hello,

We've just been informed that DD (5yo, year 1) will be taking a 'star test' and be put on accelerated reader.

Her reading is 'level 30', although I'm not sure what the level corresponds to book band wise. Her recent book says ORT 15/16.

Please can someone tell me about accelerated reader and what the star test consists of. Google tells me DD will be required to take regular tests. Do you think this will be 'too much' for a year one?

I've asked school, but the year one teacher doesn't usually deal with accelerated reader so DD will be looked after by the year 2 teacher for this and I haven't managed to speak to them yet.

Thank you

Our school does AR but it is not really managed well. My son was almost a free reader in year 3 but has stayed static since (now in year 6) on the AR scheme because 1. they can never get to do the book quiz and 2. no one checks the quiz score! They don't read 1:1 with a teacher but do guided reading of which we don't get so see any feedback. I personally feel less informed about my child's reading/comprehension with this scheme but then I guess that is down to how it is run at our school.

If you have to totally ignore the book Level to make the scheme work, then what's the point of using it?

There must be cheaper and more effective ways of encouraging children to read.

Oh for sure, there's cheaper ways to do it. I like AR well enough, it fits easily into my classroom routine but it isn't a huge game changer imo. I find the Prim Ed comprehension boxes more useful for working on comprehension skills.

I wouldn't ignore the book bands either, but I just take the view that children being interested in what they read is a good thing - and so is starting a book and leaving it because it's boring you/too hard/too easy. Tbh most of my class generally read around their book range level ime, with the odd dip into something else!

Teachers are trusting souls and if the school reading program says a book is Y2 or Y3 they are inclined to believe it unless they are familiar with the book.
I think that makes them daft then.
The ZPD is in no way a comment on the content of a book being suitable for a certain age range.

However that doesn’t address the fact that AR is a whole language program
I agree with you on that.

I'd happily not have it and do something else. I'm neither strongly for or against AR (secondary here). To me it isn't a substitute for good reading instruction, nor is it a solution for literacy issues but I've personally seen lots of success using it in my own classes.
If you have to totally ignore the book Level to make the scheme work, then what's the point of using it?
You don't blindly ignore the levels but as with any initiative in schools i take the approach of 'I am a professional with some level of professional judgement'. E.g. a student starts the first book in a series (in their range) and then wants to move to the 2nd that is higher then i'd always say carry on reading. But the zones are useful when you have weaker readers who struggle to select books, select ones that are too difficuly and then feel stupid. Picking one within their range means they are more likely to manage.

In my classes AR sits alongside other reading approaches.

edit The reading level of a book is in no way a comment on the content of a book being suitable for a certain age range.