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As part of the 2015-16 English Language Arts adoption, students will be using OverDrive, an online reading material service, similar to Bedford Public Library's online service. Students will have access to ebooks as well as audiobooks with Overdrive. Content titles are not exhaustive but our collection will be added to each year. Connect to Overdrive here.
Students will be taken on a walking field trip to the library this year to set up accounts. Application forms will be sent home prior to our visit. My goal is to keep engaging titles in students' hands at all times. They may check out books from our building library (hard copy), my classroom library, the Bedford PublicLibrary, or Overdrive.
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A Parent's Guide to Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader is used by teachers K-6 in Bedford. As a 6th grade student, 10% of your reading grade will be based on your cumulative comprehension score and another 10% will be based on the percentage of your completed goal. This is standard for all 6th-grade students.
Your goal will be based on a number of factors;
(Contrary to belief, this is not just an arbitrary number)
1. Your reading level determined by STAR test - The higher the level, the higher the goal
2. An expectation of 9 weeks of reading (1st Quarter is based on 6 weeks due to getting acclimated to the grade level, pretesting for all subjects, and initial goal conferences and Ribgy testing which is done one- on- one.
3. Approximately 60 minutes of daily independent reading (30 school/30 home, Monday through Friday, plus 60 min. on Saturday and Sunday)
4. Prior A.R. goals
As time permits, conferences are held to discuss an appropriate number of points to challenge students while not causing them to feel overwhelmed. If a goal does not challenge you, it will not change you as a reader.
This will be the last year of having an actual reading class that is separate from your writing and language instruction, so it will be extremely important that you are reading at least at a 6th grade level by the end of school year. The rest of your academic career will be heavily dependent on our ability to read texts, traditional or online.
Making the AR Goal is not the focus - Becoming a better reader is! Setting a goal just ensures that students read enough to practice strategies. If you want to be good at something, you must do it repeatedly. Students in my class are expected to read 4.5 hours total each week (Monday - Sunday). Most kids spend more face time with electronics than this or even team practices. Which skill do you value most?
AR is not fool proof. It is just a tool that assists teachers and parents in monitoring students' reading habits. There is not enough time in the 50 min. period to conference with each child on a regular basis. Therefore, some sort of support is needed in keeping track of their data. Titles of books, genres, testing dates, comprehension scores on individual tests and averages are just a few of the many pieces of data we can study. Without this tool, it would be extremely difficult as children are not as adept at recording and keeping this information organized and accurate. (I have tried having them use logs for tracking information. More time was spent on logging that could have been spent on actual reading.
It is possible for students to earn points in a number of ways without actually reading. The result of this is that the student acheives the A.R. goal but shows little or no growth on the end of quarter assessments (Rigby, Read Theory, and Moby Max).
The following is not permitted and is considered cheating resulting in a consequence:
1. Taking tests over previously read books. Students are tested on 4 separate assessments to determine an approximate reading level. Pretests mark the starting point for the student to begin reading new material and practicing strategies taught in class. At the end of the quarter, post-tests are administered to analyze growth. (Reading a book the previous year or years (K-5) factors into what skill the child has when the pretest is given. Everything done between the pre and post test factors into the changes in the data and higher reading level.
2. Testing on a book (you have not read) that is also a movie you have watched. This does not constitute reading and will make the scores invalid. Doing so does not show your ability to decode and comprehend text.
3. Taking tests over books that were read to you by a former teacher. Once again, listening to a book and testing on it will reflect your listening comprehension, not your reading ability. Listening comprehension is typically higher than reading comprehension. I will often recommend listening to online books for struggling readers for this reason. However, the AR test must be checked off as "Read To" to let me know that you received support to earn the particular score.
4. Taking tests on nonfiction books you have not read, but have background knowledge on, is not permitted. If you didn't read it, it is not helping you become a better reader.
5. Reading below your zone is not permitted unless I approve the book before you read it and enter a special password. In the event the AR program is not working properly, do not take a test on a book that is not in your zone even if the AR program allows it. Reading below your zone on a regular basis will not challenge you enough to make progress.
6. Sharing of answers, taking tests for someone, taking a test while looking at the book (hard copy or online/Overdrive) is not permitted.
7. Students may not listen to an audio book without following along with the actual book. If a student is not looking at words and attempting to decode and comprehend, he or she is not developing reading skills. Listening to a book is developing listening skills.
Accelerated Reader is used by teachers K-6 in Bedford. As a 6th grade student, 10% of your reading grade will be based on your cumulative comprehension score and another 10% will be based on the percentage of your completed goal. This is standard for all 6th-grade students.
Your goal will be based on a number of factors;
(Contrary to belief, this is not just an arbitrary number)
1. Your reading level determined by STAR test - The higher the level, the higher the goal
2. An expectation of 9 weeks of reading (1st Quarter is based on 6 weeks due to getting acclimated to the grade level, pretesting for all subjects, and initial goal conferences and Ribgy testing which is done one- on- one.
3. Approximately 60 minutes of daily independent reading (30 school/30 home, Monday through Friday, plus 60 min. on Saturday and Sunday)
4. Prior A.R. goals
As time permits, conferences are held to discuss an appropriate number of points to challenge students while not causing them to feel overwhelmed. If a goal does not challenge you, it will not change you as a reader.
This will be the last year of having an actual reading class that is separate from your writing and language instruction, so it will be extremely important that you are reading at least at a 6th grade level by the end of school year. The rest of your academic career will be heavily dependent on our ability to read texts, traditional or online.
Making the AR Goal is not the focus - Becoming a better reader is! Setting a goal just ensures that students read enough to practice strategies. If you want to be good at something, you must do it repeatedly. Students in my class are expected to read 4.5 hours total each week (Monday - Sunday). Most kids spend more face time with electronics than this or even team practices. Which skill do you value most?
AR is not fool proof. It is just a tool that assists teachers and parents in monitoring students' reading habits. There is not enough time in the 50 min. period to conference with each child on a regular basis. Therefore, some sort of support is needed in keeping track of their data. Titles of books, genres, testing dates, comprehension scores on individual tests and averages are just a few of the many pieces of data we can study. Without this tool, it would be extremely difficult as children are not as adept at recording and keeping this information organized and accurate. (I have tried having them use logs for tracking information. More time was spent on logging that could have been spent on actual reading.
It is possible for students to earn points in a number of ways without actually reading. The result of this is that the student acheives the A.R. goal but shows little or no growth on the end of quarter assessments (Rigby, Read Theory, and Moby Max).
The following is not permitted and is considered cheating resulting in a consequence:
1. Taking tests over previously read books. Students are tested on 4 separate assessments to determine an approximate reading level. Pretests mark the starting point for the student to begin reading new material and practicing strategies taught in class. At the end of the quarter, post-tests are administered to analyze growth. (Reading a book the previous year or years (K-5) factors into what skill the child has when the pretest is given. Everything done between the pre and post test factors into the changes in the data and higher reading level.
2. Testing on a book (you have not read) that is also a movie you have watched. This does not constitute reading and will make the scores invalid. Doing so does not show your ability to decode and comprehend text.
3. Taking tests over books that were read to you by a former teacher. Once again, listening to a book and testing on it will reflect your listening comprehension, not your reading ability. Listening comprehension is typically higher than reading comprehension. I will often recommend listening to online books for struggling readers for this reason. However, the AR test must be checked off as "Read To" to let me know that you received support to earn the particular score.
4. Taking tests on nonfiction books you have not read, but have background knowledge on, is not permitted. If you didn't read it, it is not helping you become a better reader.
5. Reading below your zone is not permitted unless I approve the book before you read it and enter a special password. In the event the AR program is not working properly, do not take a test on a book that is not in your zone even if the AR program allows it. Reading below your zone on a regular basis will not challenge you enough to make progress.
6. Sharing of answers, taking tests for someone, taking a test while looking at the book (hard copy or online/Overdrive) is not permitted.
7. Students may not listen to an audio book without following along with the actual book. If a student is not looking at words and attempting to decode and comprehend, he or she is not developing reading skills. Listening to a book is developing listening skills.
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Parents,
Your child uses a software program called Renaissance Place at school. This program has a special feature called Renaissance Home Connect, which your child and you can access outside of school from any computer with an Internet connection. Renaissance Home Connect is fun and easy to use. It allows the teacher, you and your child to share information about your child's progress in Accelerated Reader.
You can view Renaissance Home Connect from any computer or Smart Phone with an Internet connection using these browsers:
• Internet Explorer® 6.02 or later
• Firefox® 3.x or later
• Safari™ 3.x or later
INSTRUCTIONS:
To log in to Renaissance Home Connect:
1. Go to this Website: https://Hosted222.renlearn.com/264582/HomeConnect
2. To login use your child's username and password which is provided in school.
*If your child forgot it please contact me.
If you'd like to receive emails showing your student's quiz or test results, click the Email Setup link in Renaissance Home Connect and follow the directions. To be sure these emails reach your inbox, add [email protected] to your address book.
If you have questions about Renaissance Home Connect, please click on the AR link above to get all of the details regarding this program. Lingering questions can be directed to me via the link on the home page in the right hand column.
Your child uses a software program called Renaissance Place at school. This program has a special feature called Renaissance Home Connect, which your child and you can access outside of school from any computer with an Internet connection. Renaissance Home Connect is fun and easy to use. It allows the teacher, you and your child to share information about your child's progress in Accelerated Reader.
You can view Renaissance Home Connect from any computer or Smart Phone with an Internet connection using these browsers:
• Internet Explorer® 6.02 or later
• Firefox® 3.x or later
• Safari™ 3.x or later
INSTRUCTIONS:
To log in to Renaissance Home Connect:
1. Go to this Website: https://Hosted222.renlearn.com/264582/HomeConnect
2. To login use your child's username and password which is provided in school.
*If your child forgot it please contact me.
If you'd like to receive emails showing your student's quiz or test results, click the Email Setup link in Renaissance Home Connect and follow the directions. To be sure these emails reach your inbox, add [email protected] to your address book.
If you have questions about Renaissance Home Connect, please click on the AR link above to get all of the details regarding this program. Lingering questions can be directed to me via the link on the home page in the right hand column.