Durant Independent School District
District Administration
Renaissance Learning
Progress Monitoring software assessment tool
What is Accelerated Reader?
AR is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at his own level and reads it at his own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.) AR gives both children and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help your child set goals and direct ongoing 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. Teachers and librarians help your child choose books at an appropriate reading level that are challenging without being frustrating, ensuring that your child can pass the quiz and experience success.
If your child does not do well on the quiz, the teacher may help him:
• Choose another book that is more appropriate.
• Ask more probing questions as your child reads and before he takes a quiz.
• Pair your child with another student, or even have the book read to your child.In most cases, children really enjoy taking the quizzes. Since they’re reading books at their reading and interest levels, they are likely to be successful. This is satisfying for most children. Best of all, they learn and grow at their own pace.
All Durant ISD campuses through the middle school utilize the AR program and offer incentives to encourage children to read. This creates an environment of healthy competition and motivates many students. Contact your campus librarian to learn more about incentives and incentive levels for your child.
Children may check out AR books from our campus libraries, public libraries or use books from their own personal libraries. Books on campus will be labeled as AR books, however, if you would like to use books from another source you can access the Renaissance Book Find website to see if the title is an AR book and how many points it is worth. Any book found at the Book Find website is available for a student to test.