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To go directly to the search page for books and quizzes in Crismon's Accelerated
Reader (AR) program, please click
here.
Send an email to our PTA president and
give us your feedback on this new program!
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About
the Accelerated Reader Program
Accelerated
Reader is a program for first through sixth grade students to increase
the volume, quality and enjoyment of reading. Alarming statistics
point out that students in this age range are spending less and less
time reading independently. The Accelerated Reader program challenges
all readers – from the novice to the most advanced bookworms - to read
more quality literature at their own level. Our library circulation
has skyrocketed since the introduction of Accelerated Reader and we
know that our children’s literacy and learning power has multiplied
as a result.
Crismon is proud
to be the first "Accelerated Reader School" in
Arizona to offer a web-based search database available through QuizList
Interactive. This service provides immediate access on the web to allow
parents to search for AR book quizzes available for students to take in
Crismon classrooms and in Crismon's Computer Lab.
Please click
here to
search for books and quizzes available for AR testing at Crismon
Elementary. Searches can be conducted by Author, Title, Subject, Reading
Level, Points, or Interests and can be sorted in a variety of ways.
You can print your selection after reviewing your search results or click
on the title to receive Library of Congress Information.
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Program Support
Crismon adopted the
Accelerated Reader Program in 1999 in an effort to increase student achievement
in the area of reading. The program’s design
attracted our attention as a means to increase the quantity and quality of
reading practice for each student reader in the school. The program
is not a replacement for direct instruction in reading. Instead, the
program is a supplement designed to increase students’ practice in
daily reading.
Mesa Public Schools
has lent full support for the adoption of this program as a part of our
total reading instruction program. Crismon parents,
through your Crismon PTA, have given full financial support for the
program by dedicating funds from our annual fundraisers to purchase
books and accompanying software to support the program.
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Program
Goals
• Create measurable
growth in student reading ability
• Help students become
independent, self-directed readers and learners
• Make reading fun
and help students develop a lasting love of reading
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Program
Results
• Crismon SAT scores
show gains in reading skills since this program has been started.
• Crismon library
circulation has increased. Students visit the library more frequently
and actually read what they are checking out.
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How Accelerated Reader Works
Grade Levels:
Accelerated Reader is introduced in first grade and becomes
an integral part of the reading program through the sixth grade.
Testing for Reading Level:
Students’ initial experience with the program
is to take a “STAR Test”. This test is generally given
once a quarter and is designed to identify a student’s range of
independent reading.
Book Selection:
The independent reading level indicated by the STAR Test
is listed in grade level format and helps to guide a student’s choice
of books. This is often referred to as the student's ZPD, or the student's
Zone of Proximal Development. The target is to find material that is
not too easy or too frustrating. Most books in the Crismon Library
are labeled by AR reading “level” so that students can select
books that qualify for their ZPD level. Students and teachers can
also refer to a master list of book titles sorted by reading level or title,
or locate the list by searching
on the web. There are currently over 6,000 titles in the Crismon
A.R. list, and the number grows every week!
Reading Within the Range:
Students are expected to read within their
ZPD range, however the teacher is the final judge and can make exceptions
for reading outside of the student’s level.
Goal Setting and Grades:
Teachers work with students individually to set
an Accelerated Reader goal each quarter. Goals are set in points
that are earned when students read books and successfully pass quizzes.
The quizzes are designed to assure that students have read and understood
the books. The degree to which a student meets or exceeds the Accelerated
Reader goal is sometimes measured as a portion of a student’s total
reading grade.
Quizzes:
Students take a quiz after each book is read. Crismon
has quizzes for thousands of books, most of which can be found in
Crismon's library or in the classrooms. There are also some quizzes for
books not yet available in the Crismon library collection. Most
books are available at the Mesa
Public Library if they
are already checked out at Crismon or not available in our library.
Pacing:
Students need to pace their rate of reading throughout each quarter.
It can be stressful to try to reach a reading goal within the last
week of the quarter. Parents can help to monitor their child’s pace
each quarter by asking to receive an AR progress report from their
child’s
teacher. This will clearly show whether a child is “on track” at
any given time in the quarter. Many Crismon teachers send home regular
AR progress reports as part of weekly updates.
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Questions and Answers
How Can I Get a List of Books or Quizzes?
You can search
through Crismon's list of A.R. books and quizzes from any PC connected
to the internet, such as at home or at the Mesa
Public Library. You can print out the list and personalize it
for your child’s notebook!
Why Should I Have a List of A.R. Quizzes?
A parent can use the list to help
a child find books at the Crismon Media Center, the Mesa
Public Library, or even in your home collection.
What if I Don’t Own a Book That I Find on Crismon’s Quiz List?
Can
I Ask the Crismon Library to Find/ Hold One for Me? Unfortunately,
due to district staffing funds, Crismon does not have the same level
of support staff available at most public libraries. In order to serve
Crismon students directly through its Media programs, we ask that you
not contact the Crismon’s Media Center to reserve or locate books.
The Mesa
Public Library offers a reservation process for books that may meet your
needs.
My Child is Having Trouble Meeting His/Her AR Goal.
What Can I Do?
There are many ways you can help your child to succeed, including:
• Be sure your child is keeping a good pace throughout the quarter,
and that he/she is reading at home on a daily basis. Many
teachers recommend at least 10-30 minutes of daily reading at home,
depending on the grade level.
• Review your child's reading activities directly with your child
and ask questions about their understanding of the material they
read.
• Check with your child’s teacher. Goals can be adjusted based
on teacher’s discretion.
• If your child is having trouble passing the quizzes, you’ll
also want to consult with your child’s teacher. Your
child can receive tutoring in strategies to read for comprehension.
More questions?
Feel free to contact your PTA
President about this exciting program!
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