Please help me understand Accelerated Reader

[Louloulalala]

DCs school have starting using Accelerated Reader. School have been quite vague & I can't work out the book levels. DC has been told they have a ZPD of 4.4 to 6.6. Google tells me that the book levels equate to school grades in the US, so 6.6 is the level you'd expect a 6th grader (age 11–12, so year 7 in UK) to be reading (I think). Does anyone know if this is correct? And how does this relate to scales scores? I'm so confused...

You are correct. After they read a book they take a comprehension quiz to check they have actually read it and that they have understood it, they will regularly do reading tests to monitor their level. AR is good for motivating reluctant readers but not particularly good for motivated readers who will find the book choices restrictive.

Also worth knowing that allocating ‘reading ages’ or levels are more an art than a science and all testing needs to be constantly holistically, some children will be able to read beyond the designated levels, others may struggle, the aim is to have them reading books where they easily understand about 95% of the words I think.

@wonderstuff Thank you. DC has been bringing books home & doing quizzes at school for a while but I've only just tuned in because they've been asked to quiz at home over the holidays. I think the school have got the ZPD wrong – DC is only in year 3! I'll contact teacher & ask. Thanks again.

My child also in yr3 and has same level on accelerated reader. As above, she doesn't love the range of books so ends up reading outside of this. Her teachers are happy because she's reading, it seems certainly for her class the scheme is more helpful at the lower levels.

@swishswashswoosh Thank you, that's helpful.

Their ZPD is based of an assessment which they regularly complete. They have to read a sentence/passage and then answer questions. This will then generate a score.

If they're coming home with those books and are comfortable reading then I wouldn't worry.