Accelerated Reading - Silent Sustained Reading Camouflaged in a Computer Program? - Volume 8 - 2005

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen

Overview of recent research on Accelerated Reader (AR), a computerized testing and record-keeping system, and its implications for reading instruction and school libraries. The paper summarizes how AR was developed, how the Learning Information System delivers comprehension quizzes tied to curriculum, and how teachers monitor performance and intervene with individualized strategies. It details the selection of quizable books, the points framework using readability measures, and the reports and diagnostic outputs that track students’ progress.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Accelerated Reading: Silent Sustained Reading Camouflaged in a Computer Program?

Accelerated Reader and the Reading Renaissance Program—The Basics

AR Selection Process

Volume 8, 2005 ISSN: 1523-4320 [www.ala.org/aasl/slr](www.ala.org/aasl/slr) Accelerated Reading: Silent Sustained Reading Camouflaged in a Computer Program? Joette Stefl-Mabry According to Trelease (2001) there have been no significant change in students’ reading scores between 1971 and 2000 despite numerous reform efforts, higher standards, twelve years under a Democratic administration, and eighteen years under a Republican administration. Clearly, thereis a strong need to “fix” this reading problem. Over the past two decades computer-aided reading programs have been looked at as ways in which to remedy the reading crisis—and it is indeed a calamity. This paper provides an overview of recent research findings and papers, the majority culled from ERIC, regarding Accelerated Reader (AR), a system of computerized testing and record-keeping and its implications for reading instruction and school libraries. Accelerated Reader and the Reading Renaissance Program—The Basics The AR program was developed by Judith Paul at her kitchen table in 1984. Paul’s own children provided the motivation to develop the program. She wanted them to read good books so she incorporated behaviorist motivational techniques coupled with technology—her husband was a technologist—and AR was born (Stevenson and Camarata 2000) . The Learning Information System known as AR is a software program designed to facilitate curriculum-based assessment of reading comprehension of real books by students and analyze and summarize the results (Topping and Fisher 2001; Vollands et al. 1999). According to the AR Web site: Accelerated Reader (AR) is the world’s most popular reading management software. Used in nearly 60,000 schools, Accelerated Reader provides teachers with an easy and effective way to monitor all forms of guided reading practice ([http://www.renlearn.com/ar/overview/](http://www.renlearn.com/ar/overview/)). The main elements ofAR are designed to: empower the classroom teacher to motivate and manage extensive amounts of in-class reading practice time, to monitor student performance, and to intervene with individualized strategies for students. An hour of reading practice daily, in grade appropriate combinations of Read To, Read With, and Independent reading activities (Goodman 1999, 11) . Students using the program select a book of their own choosing (from the preselected AR list) and then take a multiple-choice comprehension quiz on the book at the computer. Students’reading selections (books) are determined by the number ofAR quizzes the school has purchased. An average “economy kit” that contains 1,000 quizzes is currently priced at $1,299 .00, plus a .99¢ per student service support package. Schools can select from a list of book titles or create one from AR’s current listing of over 73,987 books on the AR list written in English and 5,274 written in Spanish (Mabie 2005) . Books are not included in the package and each school must make book purchases independently from AR. The company offers training kits, in-service training sessions, and follow-up professional development for an additional price. Schools can also purchase such supplemental materials as a technical support contract and aselection of motivational materials for students, including T-shirts, book bags, backpacks, and bookmarks (Education Commission of the States 1999) . AR Selection Process According to Heidi Mabie (2005), a spokesperson for Renaissance Learning (RL), RL quiz writers make book selections based up on whether there is enough content for them to create five good questions. Quiz writers also make their book decisions based upon the number of requests they receive for a particular book. RL quiz writers include people with educational backgrounds, teachers, and authors. When asked if librarians were also part of the team of quiz writers, Mabie said it was quite possible and likely. According to an external memo sent to the author by Mabie, RL’s goa

FAQs

What is Accelerated Reader (AR) and what does it do?

AR is reading management software that supports curriculum-based assessment of students’ reading comprehension. Students take computer-based multiple-choice quizzes on books, while the system records results for teacher monitoring and analysis.

How do students participate in the AR program?

Students choose books from a preselected AR list and then complete multiple-choice comprehension quizzes on the computer. Quiz availability depends on how many AR quizzes the school has purchased.

How are books selected for AR quizzes and how are points calculated?

Quiz writers select books based on whether there is enough content to create quality questions and on customer requests and recommendations. Each book receives point values based on word count and reading difficulty using readability measures such as the Flesch-Kincaid index.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen