Accelerated Reader

Administered primarily by classroom volunteers, the Accelerated Reader (AR) program tests K-5th grade students' comprehension of a book. Volunteers are needed in each classroom to facilitate this program, although one volunteer can serve more than one class. Encourage your class to keep reading AR books and doing their best on tests -- twice a year, they will be able to shop in the AR store with their accumulated points. For more information about volunteering for this enriching educational program, please contact Sandy Elson.

A Brief Description of the AR program:

AR books are identified with a small color dot on the outside binder of some school library books. Books available for this program are also listed in the AR database on school computers. Here are some suggestions on how you can get the AR program started in your classroom.

  • After obtaining AR books from the school library, clearly label and position them in a student-accessible location in the classroom. The school librarian can provide assistance in locating appropriate AR books. Some classrooms may already have this set up. 
  • If your teacher has not already done so, each child must be tested on STAR before beginning AR. On the computer desktop located in each classroom, select the “STAR” icon and follow the instructions. STAR will ask a series of questions and the test will be timed. Please do not help students answer the material. After an answer is selected, students should hit enter to proceed to the next question. These tests can take up to 10 minutes depending on how many they get right. This test will allow the teacher to run a STAR report on all the students so they can receive the appropriate AR level (color dot.)
  • Most classrooms have several computers which allows volunteers to conduct multiple testings. Although student's complete the test in as much time as they need, many volunteers have reported testing the whole class in 30 minutes. 
  • Select a variety of grade appropriate levels of AR books for your classroom. Some books should be available that students can read in 5-10 minutes. Some teachers choose to do AR as a center while others let you choose which students come to the AR table/computers. Students also can check out AR books from the library to read at home. Discuss with your teacher what works best for his/her classroom.
  • To begin an AR test, students should click on the “Accelerated Reader” icon on the computer desktop. After selecting the appropriate teacher, they find their name on the classroom list. Each students' password is their first and last name initials. They will be prompted with 5-10 questions. Answers can be changed before hitting enter; however, once they hit enter the answer is logged. Depending on the number of incorrect answers, the computer program will give students the opportunity to review those questions. Each question answered wrong will be displayed along with the correct answer and also with the answer the student originally picked.
Reading Level
  • 1.5 thru 1.9 - Red dot
  • 2.0 thru 2.9 - Orange dot
  • 3.0 thru 3.9 - Green dot
  • 4.0 thru 4.9 - Dark blue dot
  • 5.0 thru 5.9 - Yellow dot
  • 6.0 and Up - White dot