Burlington Township School DistrictBurlington Township School District

Star Readingand

Accelerated Reader

What Is STAR Reading?

•A computer-adaptive assessment

• Reading comprehension

• Reading ranges

• Monitors progress

•Beginning of the school year

• Determine initial reading ranges

• Identify students who need extra help

•During the school year

• Monitor

• Measure

• Predict

Using STAR Reading

•Computer-adaptive

• Items slightly below grade level

• Matches to ability level

• Responses determine pattern of test items

•Brief

• Most students finish in under ten minutes

• Almost all students can finish in under thirteen minutes

•Accurate and Reliable

STAR Reading Advantages

Each assessment contains 25 questions:

• Grades 1 and 2

• 25 vocabulary-in-context items

• Grades 3 and above

• 20 vocabulary-in-context items

• 5 authentic text passages

STAR Reading Test

STAR Reading Time Limits

•First and Second Grades

• 60 seconds per item

•Third Grade and above

• 45 seconds per vocabulary item

• 90 seconds per text passage

•Warning clock during the last 15 seconds

•Testing time does not affect scores

STAR Reading Test Frequency

•Administer two or three times a year

• Beginning

• Middle

• End

•Students may test more frequently for progress monitoring purposes

• Item bank contains over 1,400 items

Administering the STAR Reading Assessment

•Test in a quiet environment

•Read the Pretest Instructions prior to first test of the year

•Do not read question aloud or explain questions during the test

•Students have their Renaissance Place user names and passwords

Understanding Accelerated Reader

• What is AR?

•Web-based reading management program from Renaissance Place

•Renaissance Place has two components

• STAR Reading

• Accelerated Reader

Objectives for Accelerated Reader

• To get excited about books

• To provide reliable and objective data

• To individualize learning

• To improve classroom management

• To keep students challenged

• To provide three types of assessments

• Reading Practice

• Vocabulary Quizzes

• Literacy Skills Quizzes

How Does AR Work?

• Student takes the STAR Reading Assessment

• Student and Teacher discuss the results

• Student selects a book within their ZPD

• Student reads the book

• Student takes the reading practice quiz

• Student and Teacher discuss results

• Repeat as needed

Let’s Talk About Books and AR

• Interest Level

• LG = Lower Grades

• MG = Middle Grades

• UG = Upper Grades

• Book Levels

• Indicates text difficulty

• Quantitative

• Does not relate to quality or appropriateness

AR Uses Points to Measure Practice

.5 points1.0 points

9.0 points

Comparing Levels and Points

Book Level

Title Interest Level

Points

4.0 The Poky Little Puppy LG .5

4.0 Encyclopedia Brown and the case of the disgusting

sneakers

MG 1.0

4.0 The Color Purple UG 9.0

AR Keeps Track Of:

• Quiz Scores

• Points Earned

• Book Levels

Reading Practice Quiz

• Reading and Comprehension

• Multiple Choice Questions

• Read the book once and quiz once

How Points Work

• Prorated

• No points for a failed quiz

• Below 60% on a 5- or 10-question quiz

• Below 70% on a 20-question quiz

Discussion