Peace, Love, and Books
This year’s Accelerated Reader theme will be far out! What is AR? AR is a motivational reading program that we use in hopes of instilling the love of reading, exposing students to a variety of authors and genres, and reward them for their efforts. After a student reads a book, he or she will take a test on the computer over the book. The test consists of 5 to 10 multiple answer questions. The student receives points for passing a test and then tries to accumulate a set amount of points. You can look at your student’s AR progress on this website, you can even sign up to get an email each time your child tests. https://hosted72.renlearn.com/712708/HomeConnect/Login.aspx
This link to check AR progress is also posted on the school webpage at http://www.bourbon.kyschools.us/school_home.aspx?schoolID=4and and teachers’ webpages as well.
Having access to AR online gives us access to every test that AR creates. It does NOT give access for you to take an AR test at home. Can you test on a book from home or from the public library? Yes, if AR has a test for them. You can find out at www.arbookfind.com
Parents, thank you for your support in our efforts to produce lifelong readers. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher or the librarian Mrs. Meeks. A big thank you to the Cane Ridge PTA!! All prizes and activities are sponsored and made possible with PTA and library funds. Power to the Reader! We’re grooving at this year’s AR kick-off. The AR kick off will be Friday Aug. 16, 2013 at 1:30pm. Students and teachers, you are invited to wear tye die, peace sign shirts, or any hippy attire.
Keep the Faith To help motivate our hippies, we will have a reward party each 9 weeks along the way. Reward Date of Reward Last day to reach goal 25% Classroom party Thurs. Oct. 11 last day to test Wed. party Oct. 10
50% Peace Out - Glow In December last day to test, the Party in the Dark Party day before the party
75% handprints Fri. March 8 last day to test, the party day before the party
100% Cougar Ball To be determined last day to test, party to be determined
Groovy Readers A poster size picture will be made of the winners holding their favorite books. The posters will hang from the rafters in the front entrance. Who wins? The top AR point earner from each classroom every 2 months, you can only win this prize once.
Best Effort/Most Improved Each 9 weeks, teachers will select a Best Effort and Most Improved Reader and they will earn a certificate as assembly and an ice cream sundae coupon. Teacher Awards Each week at assembly I will announce the winner per grade level of the classroom that earned the most AR points. The winning class will take a traveling book character to their room as a reward. The teacher that wins the most per 9 weeks will win 1 hour free time, and the class will get to choose a special prize (extra recess, special art project, extra computer lab time, etc.) AR Clubs You will groove your way through reading to the coolest prize, a trophy at the Cougar Ball. The clubs are based on a percentage of your yearly reading goal. Each child’s goal is based on his or her reading ability. Each Thursday or Friday morning, students will have their name announced at assembly and will receive a designated prize.
Club #1 Flower Power Club bookmark, 10% lunch at soccer field two days in the fall
Club #2 Love Bug Club Toy 25% *classroom party
Club #3 Peace Party Club Tye die drawstring bag 50% *glow in the dark party
Club #4 Groovy Club Free book 75% *handprint
Club #5 Far Out Club Trophy at the Cougar 100% Ball
Out of Sight - 100 AR point Only 43 students earned 100 points last year, and I want to double that this year! The prize will be lunch at legion park at the end of the school year. 14th Annual Cougar Ball Students who reach their yearly reading goal will be invited to attend the Ball for an afternoon of entertainment and awards. Students will wear dressy attire. Each student will receive a trophy.
Crown/Tiara – 1st and 2nd place from each classroom will earn a crown/tiara Sash - 3rd place from each classroom will receive a sash Most Improved Reader Best Effort 100 point club – field trip 150 point club – plush animal 200 point club – McDonald’s lunch 250 point club – Librarian or principal for a day 300 point club - name engraved on AR plaque 350 point club - $25 to a bookstore
Kindergarten The Kindergarten AR plan is slightly different. 1st 9 weeks goal - 10 take home "little" books or 3 AR points 2nd 9 weeks goal - 20 "little" books or 6 AR points 3rd 9 weeks goal - 35 “little” books or 9 AR points 4th 9 weeks goal - 50 “little” books 15 AR points
To determine who wins a crown or tiara for the Cougar Ball, we will add up both little book and AR book points together. They get 1 point for each little book and/ 1 point for each AR book they have read. The two students with the most book points, will win a crown or tiara and the 3rd place student will win a sash to wear to the Cougar Ball.
Also, since Kindergarten students are not yet independent readers, they must take all book tests in the classroom with the teacher or teacher assistant. Any testing outside of the classroom will not count toward their total book points.
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS
Percentages - 3rd grade and up – Your percentage correct on book tests must be 80% or better, so slow down and enjoy the books you read. The company that created AR believes that children must make 100% or 80% on every test in their reading range in order to make gains in reading.
Book Levels Does a 2.5 book level mean 2nd grader in the 5 month? Not exactly, this is strictly readability, not developmental. This is why I strongly support allowing children who are remarkable readers to still read at their grade level. AR recommends that they read broadly, not up. If a child is reading above his/her grade level, then they will be allowed to read books from their grade level up to their highest level. For example, a child in 4th grade whose reading level is 5.2-5.8 will be able to read and test on books 4.0-5.8. Or, a child in 2nd grade whose reading level is 3.1-4.2 will be able to read and test on books 2.0-4.2. We must remember to help children select books developmentally appropriate.
Points Points are based on length or word count, which is believed to reflect “engaged time”, not associated with how “worthy” a book is.
Goals Students will take a reading test on the computer called the Star test. The teacher will then look at the results and use a chart developed by AR to establish a goal. Teachers will make adjustments as needed.
Reading Range The Star test will give a recommended ZPD (zone of proximatal development) for each child. A child’s ZPD should equal the level of practice that fosters the most growth. Too easy = no growth, too hard = frustration If a child’s average is 85%, that means the student is in the right zone. An average of 90% correct or higher is associated with the greatest growth.
Practice AR recommends 30 min. of daily reading practice for elementary students. Top AR readers in Cane Ridge History 1. Hannah Stoneking 1262 points 2013 5th grader
2. Tanner Baize 932 points 2008 4th grader
3. Austin Curran 811 2010 5th grader
4. Hannah Stoneking 630 2012 4th grader
5. Quinn Cole 614 2009 5th grader
6. Laura Davis 600 2008 5th grader
7. Jewell Holland 577 2011 5th grader
8. Madison Courtney 501 2007 5th grader
9. Griffin Cain 500 2006 4th grader
10.Mark Owens 488 2011 5th grader
11.Jewell Holland 487 2009 3rd grader
12. Kaitlyn Arnold 432 2011 5th grader
13.Kaitlyn Arnold 427 2010 4th grader
14.Kaitlyn Arnold 417 2009 3rd grader
15. Jewell Holland 409 2010 4th grader
16.Tanner Baize 408 2007 3rd grader
17.James Brady 408 2009 4th grader
18.Samantha Brothers 403 2009 4th grader
19.Ana Holland 400 2012 4th grader
20.John Rogers 387 2007 3rd grader
21.Wyatt Cramer 379 2005 5th grader
22.Taylor Felts 372 2005 4th grader 23.Logan Hankins 371 2006 4th grader 24.Ana Holland 368 2013 5th grader 25.Austin Willoughby 368 2012 5th grader