CTry Accelerated Reader Extensive

Monitoring Extensive Reading - Accelerated Reader (AR) 

It was great to see my students already making some small shifts in their reading, and those little shifts told me that perhaps independent extensive reading was beginning to effect their comprehension. I needed to ensure that they continued to read extensively using AR, and that they continue to read using the best practices of AR. These practices are - they do in-class silent reading at least 20 minutes every day, they read at the right levels of books (right ZPDs) every time they read a book, and to achieve at the ideal percent of 85 - 95% after oing a quiz on every book read. As soon as they finish a quiz online, the percent is shown to them. This ideal percent indicates a good level of comprehension they had when they read that book and that book was not too easy or too difficult for them, or they were reading at the right ZPD. If the was percent was above that ideal and up to 100%, thhen it was great but it indicated that the book read was a bit too easy to the reader. If the percent was below 80% then they still passed the quiz but the level was a bit too difficult. 

The percent correct at the end of each quiz will determine the next level of book (or ZPD) that a tudent will choose to borrow and read next. If it's at the ideal level, they need to go to one or two points higher ZPD which is a little bit more difficult book. If it's below 75%, then should go to a lower ZPD or a bit easier book. If it's between these two percent correct, then read the same level of book. AR suggests that that's the ideal way for readers to read, not only that it's unlikely for them to struggle to understand what they read but they tend to enjoy reading more because they comprehend. 

Because the students are responsible for choosing their own books to read, read within the in-class time given, and do the quizzes, they need to be constantly helped and encouraged to do so. I needed to help them develop their self-management skills and sense of responsibility too. They need to be constantly reminded of the importance of reading right.

   











One way I found helpful in convincing them whether they have been responsible in reading right or not was showing them the number of books they have read thus far, the percent correct in quizzes for each book, and their choices of right ZPDs to read from.