About AR
The primary goal of a language arts program is to teach the students to read and write well. Studies indicate that the more one reads, the better reader he/she becomes. Vocabulary and grammar construction are learned by student exposure to good literature. Our Accelerated Reader (AR) program encourages a very high level of varied, independent reading.
Our AR list allows students to choose books from nearly 4,000 award-winning novels and other literature in a wide variety of genres. While most books on the list are fiction, there are also some biographies and other nonfiction books. The AR list can be accessed from the Search AR List link on the Lindero Library webpage at www.linderocanyonmiddleschool.net/library. Your child needs to choose books from this list to earn points for the Accelerated Reader program. After carefully reading a book, your child goes to the library and takes a computerized 10- or 20-question multiple-choice comprehension quiz. To earn points, students must achieve a 60/70 percent score. Students must have their IDs with them to take quizzes. Also please note that a test cannot be repeated for credit. A record is kept of all Accelerated Reader quizzes taken by your child during sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and none can be repeated from year to year.
Students can read books they obtain at the school library, public library, or bookstore, provided that the titles are on our AR list. To succeed with the AR program, students should be sure to choose books that interest them. They will also want to select books that they can read easily and enjoy without strain. I generally recommend that they select books that they can easily complete in about two weeks for best retention and success on the quizzes. As an experienced middle school teacher librarian, I am passionate about children’s and young adult literature, and have read a large selection of the books on the Accelerated Reader list. I encourage my students to ask me for advice about books that they will enjoy.
The student’s ID must be shown at the time the test is taken. We will schedule class visits to the library for reading, book selection, and quiz taking, but students also need to visit the library and take quizzes on their own before school, during lunch, or after school.
To be successful:
- Choose an interesting book at the child’s reading level that can be completed in no more than about two weeks.
- Begin reading right away.
- Take the quiz right after finishing the book.
- Schedule the quiz so there is time to read other books if necessary.
Students need to earn 15 Accelerated Reader points each quarter. The deadline for the first quarter was October 19, and the semester deadline was January 15.
For the third quarter, we are scheduling a five-week interim deadline to help students stay better on task. Students will be required to earn 8 points by February 26, and the quarter total of 15 points by March 26. Deadline for the fourth quarter will be announced soon.
Please click here to acknowledge that both you and your child have read this letter and understand the AR program. Please be sure to contact me if you have any questions about it.
