Twin Lakes

What is Accelerated Reader?

Accelerated Reader, also known as AR, is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children's independent reading practice. Your child reads a book at their own level, and their 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 their teacher feedback based on the quiz results, which the teachers then uses to help your child set goals and direct their ongoing reading practice.

How many Accelerated Reader quizzes are there?

There are over 110,000 AR quizzes available.

What kinds of quizzes are there?

Accelerated Reader includes several types of quizzes designed to support the development of several reading skills.

Quiz types include:

Reading Practice Quizzes are the most common type of assessment in AR. The purpose of these quizzes is to determine whether your child has read the book, to measure their literal comprehension of the book, and to provide immediate feedback. Each Reading Practice Quiz consists of 5, 10, or 20 multiple-choice questions depending on book level and length. They are available in English, Spanish, and Recorded Voice formats.

Recorded Voice Quizzes are designed for beginning readers and students learning English. They are professionally recorded by a narrator who reads the quiz questions and answer choices as they appear on screen.

Vocabulary Practice Quizzes measure a child’s command of vocabulary words encountered while reading. They are designed to reinforce vocabulary acquisition, assist with individualizing vocabulary instruction, and generate your child’s interest in words through authentic, in-context literature experiences. Quizzes include 5, 10, or 15 words from a particular book as well as review words from previously read books. Vocabulary Practice Quizzes are only available in the Renaissance Place™ versions of Accelerated Reader.

Literacy Skills Quizzes are designed to give your child’s teacher information on specific reading skills. Questions are randomly generated from a 36- or 60-item bank resulting in 12 or 24 quiz questions. Due to item-bank technology, Literacy Skills Quizzes can be taken up to three times. Quiz questions are based on 24 specific, higher-order reading comprehension skills from state standards, basal reading series, and standardized tests.

Other Reading Quizzes are designed to determine whether a child read and understood content in their textbook. Other Reading Quizzes are aligned to a variety of textbooks series and are specifically linked to how textbooks and other materials are used in the class.

My child already does well in school.

Why do they need this?

Even if a child is gifted at playing a musical instrument, they have to practice to develop their talent. Bright children, like all children, need to be challenged. Teachers using AR software in their classrooms find it easy to guide each student to books that give the child both challenge and success, regardless of the child’s level.

My child is not a strong reader.

Can they still use Accelerated Reader?

Accelerated Reader helps all children become better readers, from students with special needs to those who are gifted and talented. When children read books at an appropriate level, they experience success. Furthermore, teachers work with children to set appropriate goals based on each child’s reading level.

Reading Support for Kindergarten – 1st Grade:

A wonderful website for helping your student, whether they are an incoming kindergartener or 1st grader, is STARFALL.COM. This website is a reading program designed to be fun, exciting, and promote confidence in young children as they learn to read.

Reading Support for 1st – 6th Grade:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is your child’s reading/language arts book publisher. They have a wonderful resource that supports instruction in the classroom and at home. To use this excellent resource at home visit EDUPLACE.COM.