What we did this week in the lab(Sept. 15-19)

This week we spent most of the training all the students at Rancho Elementary School on how to use Accelerated Reader. As many of you know, we use an online program called “Accelerated Reader”, abbreviated as A/R, to help encourage our students to read. A/R uses a combination of approved books, , Book Quizzes, and a reward system to make sure our students enjoy and excel at reading. At the heart of this system is the Rancho Library, with its good selection of well-cataloged books. The other important part of the system are the computers you see in every classroom.

At the start of the year, the teacher determines the level at which every individual student is reading. As you can imagine, there is quite a range in ability in every class. Every child is different, and develops at her own pace. It's important for us to match each child with the books that are they can read comfortably. A child who reads too high above or too far beneath her capability is a child who is not advancing to their full capability.
The student then reads each book on her own. She may read it in class or home, but she must finish it. When she has finished the book, she takes a test to determine how much of the book's content she has remembered.

Each child gets points for quiz she passes. The child then selects another book, and the cycle starts over again. As she reads more books, she receives more and more points. The children really like this system. Last year, the school as whole took over 7000 quizzes. Reading Experts agree that the best training for reading is to read more. This program helps Our students to be the great readers they are.