Accelerated Reader

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Accelerated Reader (AR) is a program to monitor and assess student reading.  Used by both primary and secondary schools, the AR program was created by Renaissance Learning, Inc.  AR software determines whether or not a child has read a book and also provides additional information to teachers regarding reading rates, amount of reading, and other variables related to reading.  Additionally, AR offers other types of assessments to assess higher order thinking skills and vocabulary.  Quizzes can be taken on both fiction and non-fiction books.  As of 2006, there were over 100,000 books in the AR database.

There are three steps in using Accelerated Reader:

1.)  Students choose and read a fiction or non-fiction book.  Teachers monitor reading including guided, paired, literature-based, and textbook reading. 

2.)  Students take a quiz on the computer.  Teachers can create their own quizzes for books not available through AR.

3.)  The teacher receives information that is intended to assist, motivate reading, monitor progress, and target instruction.  Reports regarding reading level and comprehension skills are available through the software.