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

AR Goal Setting Basics Set goals quarterly. Set goals quarterly. Have latest STAR reports available. Have latest STAR reports available. Use Goal Setting Charts for 20 minutes daily and 6 weeks for Quarters 1 and 4 and 9 weeks for Quarters 2 and 3. Use Goal Setting Charts for 20 minutes daily and 6 weeks for Quarters 1 and 4 and 9 weeks for Quarters 2 and 3. Log into website: Log into website:website

Finding the AR Goal Setting Table Choose class record books under Accelerated Reader. Choose class record books under Accelerated Reader. Choose reading practice goals. Choose reading practice goals. Select Marking Periods and choose correct quarter. Select Marking Periods and choose correct quarter. Click Edit Student Goals. Click Edit Student Goals.

Average % Correct Goal This is the most important goal to maintain! This is the most important goal to maintain! This goal reflects QUALITY of Reading. This goal reflects QUALITY of Reading. Quality is more important than quantity, though practice and increased quantity improves quality. Quality is more important than quantity, though practice and increased quantity improves quality.

Setting % Correct Goals Average % Correct – default is 85%. Keep here for most students. Average % Correct – default is 85%. Keep here for most students. If you want to encourage higher comprehension (understand you may have to lower book level expectations) set no higher than 90%. If you want to encourage higher comprehension (understand you may have to lower book level expectations) set no higher than 90%. Research shows higher % correct averages equate to higher comprehension scores on standardized tests. Research shows higher % correct averages equate to higher comprehension scores on standardized tests.

Monitoring Average % Correct If students are not maintaining at least 85% correct, we need to monitor their independent reading more closely and perhaps change reading range. If students are not maintaining at least 85% correct, we need to monitor their independent reading more closely and perhaps change reading range. May need to adjust reading range, book level, or length of books being read, if student is not maintaining an average of 85%. May need to adjust reading range, book level, or length of books being read, if student is not maintaining an average of 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 % Correct Check STAR report to ensure students are reading in appropriate range. Check STAR report to ensure students are reading in appropriate range. Are students reading books within their ZPD? Lower or Upper end? Are students reading books within their ZPD? Lower or Upper end? Are students using I PICK, Goldilocks’ Rules, and/or Five Finger Rule to help them choose a Good Fit Book? Are students using I PICK, Goldilocks’ Rules, and/or Five Finger Rule to help them choose a Good Fit Book?I PICK Goldilocks’ RulesFive Finger Rule I PICK Goldilocks’ RulesFive Finger Rule Use Dip and Tip to check in with readers during Independent Reading. Use Dip and Tip to check in with readers during Independent Reading.Dip and Tip Dip and Tip

Setting Points Goals Use Goal Setting Table and STAR report. Use Goal Setting Table and STAR report. Locate ZPD and GE on Star report. Locate ZPD and GE on Star report. Find closest equivalent on Goal Setting Table. Find closest equivalent on Goal Setting Table. Locate points goal for 20 minutes for the proper number of weeks in the quarter. Locate points goal for 20 minutes for the proper number of weeks in the quarter.

Example

Setting Points Goals This student’s Grade Equivalent score is 4.6 and his ZPD is This student’s Grade Equivalent score is 4.6 and his ZPD is Now we look on the Goal Setting Table for the nearest match to these scores. Now we look on the Goal Setting Table for the nearest match to these scores.

Example Depending on the quarter use 6 or 9 week values.

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

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

Grading At the end of the quarter, you may then just record in your grade book, the actual % of the points the student achieved for their AR average. At the end of the quarter, you may then just record in your grade book, the actual % of the points the student achieved for their AR average. If you want to give an AR grade every two weeks, students must reach approximately 22-23% of their goal every two weeks in order to reach their quarterly goal. If you want to give an AR grade every two weeks, students must reach approximately 22-23% of their goal every two weeks in order to reach their quarterly goal.

Book Level Goals Book level goals are the average book level the student should be reading for maximal reading growth. Book level goals are the average book level the student should be reading for maximal reading growth. AR gives a wide ZPD range to encourage reading for pleasure. AR gives a wide ZPD range to encourage reading for pleasure. As long as a students are reading in the ZPD and are maintaining an 85% correct average, they will grow as readers. As long as a students are reading in the ZPD and are maintaining an 85% correct average, they will grow as readers.

Book Level Goals 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 Goals Should fall somewhere in the middle of the student’s ZPD. Should fall somewhere in the middle of the student’s ZPD. For first quarters, start on the low side of middle. For first quarters, start on the low side of middle. For later quarters, move slightly to the higher side of middle. For later quarters, move slightly to the higher side of middle.

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

Reading Certifications Use STAR Reports, reading goals, and reading habits to set reading certifications. Use STAR Reports, reading goals, and reading habits to set reading certifications. Students may skip certification levels. No student should ever go back to an earlier certification level. Students may skip certification levels. No student should ever go back to an earlier certification level. All reading certifications may be repeated EXCEPT Independent Reader. All reading certifications may be repeated EXCEPT Independent Reader.

Reading Certifications Any certification level other than STAR Reader should not be repeated for more than 5 times (the jump between STAR and Classic is the largest jump between levels). Any certification level other than STAR Reader should not be repeated for more than 5 times (the jump between STAR and Classic is the largest jump between levels). Certifications should not be impossible, but also should not be easy enough to achieve every week. Certifications should not be impossible, but also should not be easy enough to achieve every week.

Reading Certifications Not every book must count toward certification. Not every book must count toward certification. As long as students are reading they are growing as readers. As long as students are reading they are growing as readers. Most certification levels only require three books passed with a grade of 80%. Most certification levels only require three books passed with a grade of 80%.

Reading Certification Levels Make sure that reading certification level is reasonable for the grade level and student’s reading habits (i.e. a fourth grade student should not be pursuing a rising reader certification, etc.). Make sure that reading certification level is reasonable for the grade level and student’s reading habits (i.e. a fourth grade student should not be pursuing a rising reader certification, etc.). Students in the upper grades should aim to achieve at least one certificate a quarter. Most should aim for 2 certificates. Students in the upper grades should aim to achieve at least one certificate a quarter. Most should aim for 2 certificates.

Reading Certification Levels

Reading Certifications Must be reset with each certificate achieved. Must be reset with each certificate achieved. I only run certificates off for the preceding week. I only run certificates off for the preceding week.

Renaissance Home Connect Important to have all Reading Goals and Certifications Up-To- Date since we will be sending home information next week about Renaissance Home Connect. Important to have all Reading Goals and Certifications Up-To- Date since we will be sending home information next week about Renaissance Home Connect. Find Link on Library page of the website under Accelerated Reader. Find Link on Library page of the website under Accelerated Reader.Link

Renaissance Home Connect All teachers should add link to their class web pages. All teachers should add link to their class web pages. Home connect allows parents to monitor a student’s AR progress from home. Home connect allows parents to monitor a student’s AR progress from home. Home connect Home connect Parents use student log-in and passwords. Parents use student log-in and passwords. Parents may also sign up for alerts when their student takes an AR quiz. Parents may also sign up for alerts when their student takes an AR quiz.

Vocabulary Quizzes If a book has a vocabulary quiz, allow students to take the quizzes. No need to count grade. If a book has a vocabulary quiz, allow students to take the quizzes. No need to count grade. Gives students additional practice in determining meanings from context. Gives students additional practice in determining meanings from context. For every five quizzes passed with a grade of 80 or above, I gave a point of extra credit toward vocabulary grade in reading. For every five quizzes passed with a grade of 80 or above, I gave a point of extra credit toward vocabulary grade in reading.