1. Garland Junior School Meet the Leadership Team
Welcome – thank you for coming.
Apologies for the classroom setting!
What I want from this evening – understand the structure of the leadership team, learn about where the school is heading this year and why, to share your views on what you would like from the school.
I will keep it short!
September 2017

2. Who’s Who in the Leadership Team?
Members of the leadership team to introduce themselves:
Name, how long you have been at the school, role in the school, what the role involves, a little bit about yourself.

3. Accelerated Reader for Parents

4. What is Accelerated Reader?
Computerised learning information system
Assessment tool (monitor)
Diagnostic tool (manage)
Motivational tool

5. Why has the school invested in Accelerated Reader?

6. How does it work? STAR Reader Assessment
(Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading)
A series of 25 multiple-choice questions that ask students to select appropriate vocabulary to complete a sentence.
Computer-adaptive: questions adjust to student’s level as the questions are answered.
The assessment will be done 5 times a year.
The assessment allows us to give each pupil a ZPD.
The STAR test always begins with 3 test questions to give the student a feel for how the test will run. A student should have a minimum of a 100-word reading vocabulary in order for the test results to be an accurate picture of the student’s skills. The test starts several grade levels below the students’ grade placement but then “adaptive branching” takes over by analyzing student response and giving further questions of appropriate difficulty. The test generally takes about 10 minutes and is designed to minimize frustration and anxiety.

7. Zone of Proximal Difference
What is “ZPD?”
Zone of Proximal Difference
The range of book levels (0.2 – 13.5) that will result in optimal growth in reading ability. The lowest point of this range will feel easy for the children!
The range of books that will challenge a student in terms of comprehension without causing frustration or loss of motivation.
Your child will know their ZPD from their bookmark.
The key to using the ZPD is to keep in mind that it represents a range of readability levels that will support the improvement of reading skills without frustration.

8. How does Accelerated Reader work?
Students must memorize a simple password to log in to AR to take a test. The program then prompts the student to select the quiz that matches the book read. The number of questions on the quiz directly correlates to the readability level and the length of the title.

9. Then what? Teacher/child get the quiz results.
Diagnostic reports give teachers valuable information on students’ reading practice and literacy skills development.
Teacher then guides student towards reading materials within their ZPD for improvement.
The program keeps a running tally of tests taken as well as detailed information about the student’s comprehension. That data helps teachers tailor his or her teaching to address the skills that need to be taught to help each student improve their reading comprehension. That sometimes means that listening skills need to be reinforced if read-alouds are not generating a high passing score. It could also mean that small group instruction could take place where students talk about their books to help them understand concepts like character, plot, and setting.

10. How will this work during the school day?
All children will read daily in their classes for minutes. This will take place after lunch.
During these times the library will be staffed to allow for the changing of books and quizzing to take place.
Children will receive recognition for their achievements. 10

11. What about reading at home?
To begin with school books will not be coming home. This is to ensure that we establish a regular reading pattern for everyone.
After half term we hope to launch the home connect site for you – you can monitor your child’s progress and get involved at home too!

12. How can I help my child?
Make sure they are reading “just right” books. Encourage them to select books within his/her ZPD.
Books they can read without much help (perhaps only missing one or two words a book or page)
Let your child read books to you and let them see you reading.
Ask detailed questions about what they are reading:
Who is in your book? (Characters)
Where does it take place? (Setting)
What happened first/next/at the end? (Plot)
What did you think about the book?
Use AR book-finder to check book levels
Make reading a priority in your home – read with your child, let your child read to you, ask your child about their book and what they think about it, and most importantly, model reading to your child with newspapers, magazines, and books that YOU enjoy.

13. Any questions?