Reading

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What is Accelerated Reader?

ACCELERATED READER is an individualized program that allows each student to move at his or her own pace and level of ability.

The goal is to have our students read more and to select better books. As a result, your son or daughter will become a better reader and a better student.

This is how the program works. Your son or daughter chooses a book from a list of carefully selected books. Most of the books are available at the school library. Some books you may have to obtain from the public library. Each book has been evaluated as to reading level and length. Based on those two factors, each book is assigned a point value, i.e. 1 point, 5 points, etc. After reading the book, your son or daughter goes to the computer to take a test. The test measures comprehension of the book. Points are based on the point value of the book and the student’s score on the test. Reading points are the most objective way to measure a student’s reading practice. Students must practice reading in order to improve their reading ability.

The Accelerated Reader program keeps track of your son or daughter’s performance and generates a report of reading practice. I will send home a computer printout of your child’s reading practice at least once each quarter.

In addition, there will be some special recognition and incentives to motivate your child to read. However, parents are also key motivators and essential for the success of this special reading program. Please encourage your son or daughter to read.

Note: During the 1997-98 school year, Dr. Ferguson piloted the Accelerated Reader program. Because of the success of that pilot study, Dr. Ferguson wrote a grant to purchase the program for School Street Elementary.

What are literature circles?

Literature Circles are small discussion groups comprised of students reading the same story, poem, article, or book. While reading each portion of the text (either in or outside of class), each member prepares to take specific responsibilities in the upcoming discussion, and everyone comes to the groups with the notes needed to help perform that job. The circles have regular meetings, with discussion roles rotating each session.

Literature Circles offer readers the opportunity to become literate. We want our students not only to love reading but also to think actively and critically about what they read. In literature circles readers become critical thinkers as they engage in ongoing dialogue about their reading. Readers begin to see pieces of literature as part of a larger whole and become aware of diverse perspectives on similar topics in their search for connections among the books circle members have read.

Each class period is divided into three sections.

Students read or share the assigned passage. Sometimes it may be necessary to do some of this reading at home.
Students work on their role sheet.
Students meet in Literature Circles to share and discuss their role sheets

What is guided reading?

teacher_kids

A teacher works with a small group;
Children in the group are similar in their development of a reading process and are able to read about the same level of text.
Teachers introduce the stories and assist children's reading in ways that help to develop independent reading strategies.
Each child reads the whole text.
The goal is for children to read independently and silently.
The emphasis is on reading increasingly challenging books over time.
Children are grouped and regrouped in a dynamic process that involves ongoing observation and assessment. (Fountas and Pinnell,1996)

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