1. THIS IS PART OF A GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD FOR JESSICA C. Reaching Out With AR

2. What is Accelerated Reader? Accelerated Reader, the company's flagship software was created in 1985 and defined as reading management software It is intended to help teachers guide students' independent reading practice and motivate students to read more books. Essentially, AR is an assessment that primarily determines whether a student has read a book, with more efficiency, speed, and accuracy than a book report because it is computer-scored. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Learning#Accelerated_Reader ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Learning#Accelerated_Reader

3. What is Accelerated Reader? The software provides additional information to teachers regarding reading rates, amount of reading, and other variables related to reading. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Learning#Accelerated_Reader ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Learning#Accelerated_Reader Howe Elementary and Middle School both subscribe to Accelerated Reader Enterprise which offers the entire library of quizzes over thousands of books. Accelerated Reader is abbreviated as AR majority of the time

4. For all Grades Kindergarten through 7th Students can only take AR tests at school during school hours. They can not take tests during the summer months and holidays but are encouraged to read Be sure write down information about the book so they can take a test on the book/books when school resumes Students can test on books they have read by themselves or with support from someone else. Teachers may also have students test on books that are read/studied in class.

5. Elementary Students Goals are set by each grade level. These goals are listed in the student handbook. Goals can be modified to meet students needs. Top point earners for each grade are recognized with their names painted on the walls of the elementary school walls. They also get to attend a special AR Blow Out day with fun games.

6. Middle School Students Students have a goal for earning 10 points each six weeks. Goals can be modified to meet students needs. Students select books to read based on a STAR reading test assessment. STAR Reading is a computer-adaptive reading test and database. It assesses students' reading levels and provides norm-referenced reading scores for students in grades 1 through 12. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Learning) The expectations is for a student to read outside of the classroom in the place of reading homework. AR is part of a reading grade.

7. Middle School Students The average of all quizzes taken count as one test grade. Points earned are reflected as a daily grade. 10 points– 100% as a daily grade 9 points– 90% 8 points– 80% 7 points– 70% 6 points– 60% 5 points– 50% 4 points– 40% 3 points– 30% 2 points– 20% 1 point– 10% 0 points– 0%

8. The Books in the Howe Library The books are labeled according to the AR level and point value. On the spine of every AR book in the Howe Community Library is a sticker with a colored book, the AR level, and the point value. If they do not have an AR test available, there is a star in the upper right hand corner of the first page of the book.

9. The Books in the Howe Library Pre– Level 1: Peach colored book Level 1: Blue colored book Level 2: Red colored book Level 3: Green colored book

10. The Books in the Howe Library Level 4: Brown colored book Level 5: Yellow colored book Level 6: Magenta colored book Level 7: Orange colored book

11. The Books at the Howe Library Level 8: Light pink colored book Level 9: Tan colored book Level 10: Light purple colored book Level 11: Yellow-green colored book Level 12: Gray colored book

12. Websites for Teachers and Parents o www.renlearn.com/ar o http://www.slideshare.net/susangrigsby/accelerated- reader-101-for-parents-3457052 o www.havefunteaching.com/reading- worksheets/accelerated-reader o http://hubpages.com/hub/Parents-Guide-to-AR-Books- and-Tests--What-is-Accelerated-Reader

13. For More Information Contact: Howe Elementary School Office 903-532-3320 http://www.howeisd.net/Domain/9 Howe Middle School Office 903-532-6013 http://www.howeisd.net/Domain/8 Howe Community Library 903-532-5519 http://www.howeisd.net/Page/642

14. Work Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Learning #Accelerated_Reader http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Learning #Accelerated_Reader http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STAR_(software)#STA R_Reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STAR_(software)#STA R_Reading