Accelerated Reader Goal Setting, Certification Levels and Renaissance Home Connect Lori Carter.

Accelerated ReaderAccelerated Reader

Goal Setting, Certification Levels Goal Setting, Certification Levels and Renaissance Home Connectand Renaissance Home Connect

Lori Carter

AR Goal Setting BasicsAR Goal Setting Basics

Set goals quarterly. Set goals quarterly. Have latest STAR reports Have latest STAR reports

available.available. Use Goal Setting Charts for 20 Use Goal Setting Charts for 20

minutes daily and 6 weeks for minutes daily and 6 weeks for Quarters 1 and 4 and 9 weeks Quarters 1 and 4 and 9 weeks for Quarters 2 and 3.for Quarters 2 and 3.

Log into Log into websitewebsite::

Finding the AR Goal Setting Finding the AR Goal Setting TableTable

Choose class record books Choose class record books under Accelerated Reader.under Accelerated Reader.

Choose reading practice goals.Choose reading practice goals. Select Marking Periods and Select Marking Periods and

choose correct quarter.choose correct quarter. Click Edit Student Goals.Click Edit Student Goals.

Average % Correct GoalAverage % Correct Goal

This is the most important goal This is the most important goal to maintain!to maintain!

This goal reflects QUALITY of This goal reflects QUALITY of Reading. Reading.

Quality is more important than Quality is more important than quantity, though practice and quantity, though practice and increased quantity improves increased quantity improves quality.quality.

Setting % Correct GoalsSetting % Correct Goals

Average % Correct – default is 85%. Average % Correct – default is 85%. Keep here for most students.Keep here for most students.

If you want to encourage higher If you want to encourage higher comprehension (understand you comprehension (understand you may have to lower book level may have to lower book level expectations) set no higher than expectations) set no higher than 90%. 90%.

Research shows higher % correct Research shows higher % correct averages equate to higher averages equate to higher comprehension scores on comprehension scores on standardized tests.standardized tests.

Monitoring Average % CorrectMonitoring Average % Correct

If students are not maintaining If students are not maintaining at least 85% correct, we need to at least 85% correct, we need to monitor their independent monitor their independent reading more closely and reading more closely and perhaps change reading range.perhaps change reading range.

May need to adjust reading May need to adjust reading range, book level, or length of range, book level, or length of books being read, if student is books being read, if student is not maintaining an average of not maintaining an average of 85%.85%.

Examples

• This group of students is not maintaining an 85% correct on their reading.

• Notice highlighted examples:

• One is reading vast quantities, but not maintaining quality. Other is maintaining BL, but is not able to maintain 85% correct.

Monitoring Average % CorrectMonitoring Average % Correct

Check STAR report to ensure Check STAR report to ensure students are reading in appropriate students are reading in appropriate range.range.

Are students reading books within Are students reading books within their ZPD? Lower or Upper end?their ZPD? Lower or Upper end?

Are students using I PICK, Are students using I PICK, Goldilocks’ Rules, and/or Five Finger Goldilocks’ Rules, and/or Five Finger Rule to help them choose a Good Fit Rule to help them choose a Good Fit Book? Book?

Use Dip and Tip to check in with Use Dip and Tip to check in with readers during Independent readers during Independent Reading.Reading.

Setting Points GoalsSetting Points Goals

Use Goal Setting Table and Use Goal Setting Table and STAR report.STAR report.

Locate ZPD and GE on Star Locate ZPD and GE on Star report.report.

Find closest equivalent on Goal Find closest equivalent on Goal Setting Table.Setting Table.

Locate points goal for 20 Locate points goal for 20 minutes for the proper number minutes for the proper number of weeks in the quarter.of weeks in the quarter.

Example

Setting Points GoalsSetting Points Goals

This student’s Grade Equivalent This student’s Grade Equivalent score is 4.6 and his ZPD is 3.2-score is 4.6 and his ZPD is 3.2-5.1.5.1.

Now we look on the Goal Now we look on the Goal Setting Table for the nearest Setting Table for the nearest match to these scores.match to these scores.

Example

Depending on the quarter use 6 or 9 week values.

Setting Points GoalsSetting Points Goals

So for this quarter, this student’s So for this quarter, this student’s points goal would be 9.7 points points goal would be 9.7 points and we would enter this in the and we would enter this in the table.table.

Setting Points GoalsSetting Points Goals

Once the student starts taking Once the student starts taking tests, AR keeps up with the tests, AR keeps up with the student’s progress toward the student’s progress toward the points goal.points goal.

GradingGrading

At the end of the quarter, you At the end of the quarter, you may then just record in your may then just record in your grade book, the actual % of the grade book, the actual % of the points the student achieved for points the student achieved for their AR average.their AR average.

If you want to give an AR grade If you want to give an AR grade every two weeks, students must every two weeks, students must reach approximately 22-23% of reach approximately 22-23% of their goal every two weeks in their goal every two weeks in order to reach their quarterly order to reach their quarterly goal.goal.

Book Level GoalsBook Level Goals

Book level goals are the Book level goals are the average book levelaverage book level the student the student should be reading for maximal should be reading for maximal reading growth.reading growth.

AR gives a wide ZPD range to AR gives a wide ZPD range to encourage reading for pleasure.encourage reading for pleasure.

As long as a students are As long as a students are reading in the ZPD and are reading in the ZPD and are maintaining an 85% correct maintaining an 85% correct average, they will grow as average, they will grow as readers.readers.

Book Level Goals Book Level Goals

ARE NOT:ARE NOT:

Grade Equivalents!Grade Equivalents! The Upper End of the ZPD.The Upper End of the ZPD.

Use STAR Report to Guide You

• Note on the STAR report that the top of top of the ZPD and the GE are very close.

Book Level GoalsBook Level Goals

Should fall somewhere in the Should fall somewhere in the middle of the student’s ZPD. middle of the student’s ZPD.

For first quarters, start on the For first quarters, start on the low side of middle.low side of middle.

For later quarters, move For later quarters, move slightlyslightly to the higher side of middle.to the higher side of middle.

Book Level GoalsBook Level Goals

Setting a reasonable book level Setting a reasonable book level goal encourages reading for goal encourages reading for pleasure and reading growth!pleasure and reading growth!

Reading CertificationsReading Certifications

Use STAR Reports, reading Use STAR Reports, reading goals, and reading habits to set goals, and reading habits to set reading certifications.reading certifications.

Students may skip certification Students may skip certification levels. No student should ever levels. No student should ever go back to an earlier certification go back to an earlier certification level.level.

All reading certifications may be All reading certifications may be repeated EXCEPT Independent repeated EXCEPT Independent Reader.Reader.

Reading CertificationsReading Certifications

Any certification level other than Any certification level other than STAR Reader should not be STAR Reader should not be repeated for more than 5 times repeated for more than 5 times (the jump between STAR and (the jump between STAR and Classic is the largest jump Classic is the largest jump between levels).between levels).

Certifications should not be Certifications should not be impossible, but also should not impossible, but also should not be easy enough to achieve be easy enough to achieve every week.every week.

Reading CertificationsReading Certifications

Not every book must count Not every book must count toward certification. toward certification.

As long as students are reading As long as students are reading they are growing as readers. they are growing as readers.

Most certification levels only Most certification levels only require three books passed with require three books passed with a grade of 80%.a grade of 80%.

Reading Certification LevelsReading Certification Levels

Make sure that reading Make sure that reading certification level is reasonable certification level is reasonable for the grade level and student’s for the grade level and student’s reading habits (i.e. a fourth reading habits (i.e. a fourth grade student should not be grade student should not be pursuing a rising reader pursuing a rising reader certification, etc.).certification, etc.).

Students in the upper grades Students in the upper grades should aim to achieve at least should aim to achieve at least one certificate a quarter. Most one certificate a quarter. Most should aim for 2 certificates.should aim for 2 certificates.

Reading Certification LevelsReading Certification Levels

Reading Certification LevelsReading Certification Levels

Reading Certification LevelsReading Certification Levels

Reading CertificationsReading Certifications

Must be reset with each Must be reset with each certificate achieved.certificate achieved.

I only run certificates off for the I only run certificates off for the preceding week.preceding week.

Renaissance Home ConnectRenaissance Home Connect

Important to have all Reading Important to have all Reading Goals and Certifications Up-To-Goals and Certifications Up-To-Date since we will be sending Date since we will be sending home information next week home information next week about Renaissance Home about Renaissance Home Connect.Connect.

Find Find LinkLink on Library page of the on Library page of the website under Accelerated website under Accelerated Reader. Reader.

Renaissance Home ConnectRenaissance Home Connect

All teachers should add link to All teachers should add link to their class web pages.their class web pages.

Home connect Home connect allows parents to allows parents to monitor a student’s AR progress monitor a student’s AR progress from home.from home.

Parents use student log-in and Parents use student log-in and passwords.passwords.

Parents may also sign up for Parents may also sign up for email alerts when their student email alerts when their student takes an AR quiz.takes an AR quiz.

Vocabulary QuizzesVocabulary Quizzes

If a book has a vocabulary quiz, If a book has a vocabulary quiz, allow students to take the allow students to take the quizzes. No need to count grade.quizzes. No need to count grade.

Gives students additional practice Gives students additional practice in determining meanings from in determining meanings from context. context.

For every five quizzes passed For every five quizzes passed with a grade of 80 or above, I with a grade of 80 or above, I gave a point of extra credit toward gave a point of extra credit toward vocabulary grade in reading.vocabulary grade in reading.