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AR Reading Level Info - I have assigned a reading level to each student in my class. I start students out at a level that is based on a combination of: 1) where their last year's teacher told me they were at the end of last year, 2) the result of their recent STAR Reading Test and, 3) their current test scores on the books they've read so far this year (we already did 2 books as a class, and the class has had lots of in-class individual reading time).
The explanation of the Reading Level is as follows. If a student was assigned to read in the level 4.0-4.4 (1 & 2 point books), for example, the first part of the level (the 4.0-4.4) is the level of reading difficulty (grade level) of the book. The digit in the whole number place (in this case the 4) stands for the grade level (in this case 4th grade). The digit in the tenths place (in this case the zero) stands for the month of the school year (in this case it's the zero month). The first full month of the school year is September (August doesn't count because we don't have the whole month, only since August 9th), so September is month zero, October is month #1, November is month #2, etc., but not until the end of the month. So, by the end of November your child should be reading at 4.2 level, or higher, to be considered reading at grade level. So, 4.0-4.4 would mean: 4th grade zero month (4th grade, end of September) through 4th grade 4th month (4th grade, end of January). The points (1 & 2 point books in this case) represents the length of the book (the amount of words). The longer the book, the more book points it is worth.
The individual student reading levels are created by each teacher and there is no way for AR to know what levels we created unless we put computer boundaries on the students and lock them out of everything that is outside of the level we assigned. I only do that for students that show me it is required because I can no longer trust them to read in the level that I assigned them to read in. I don't do that for all students because when we read books together (which we do a great deal of), the books can not be in every students' level, so then I would have to run around the class to every student's computer to enter a monitor password that will allow them to take a test outside their reading level.
This original assigned reading level is simply a starting point. I will raise your child's reading level after s/he earns four (4) 90% or 100% scores (any combination), in his/her assigned reading level, when read independently. Or, on the other hand, if your child is struggling and getting poor AR test scores, I will lower his/her reading level.
My AR Target (AR points) is based on an AVERAGE of 1/2 (0.5) point per day. So, a 1 point book should be read in 2 days, a 2 point book should be completed in 4 days, etc. (book points x 2 = days it should take to read the book in order to be at Target). If your child is at, or above, the daily AR Target, s/he will earn 1 positive Dojo point for that day. If your child is below the daily AR Target, s/he will earn 1 negative Dojo point for that day. Students that are at least 30% above the AR Target, will be in a category called "Super Reader". Super Readers will earn an extra positive Dojo point each day they are a Super Reader, and also earn extra treats and privileges. The AR Target goes up 1/2 point per day for everyone regardless of absences. It is a very good idea to always have more points than the AR Target so there will be a safety net. Please make sure that your child is reading for at least 45-60 minutes every day Monday - Thursday as that is the regularly assigned homework. This homework started yesterday (Tuesday, 8/21/18). If you don't make sure that your child reads enough each night for homework, then s/he will probably end up under the daily AR Target. Students that are below AR Target may be required to read during certain recesses, during extra recess, and during Friday Fun Time. So please help your child by making sure that s/he is doing enough daily reading. Reading is, without a doubt, the most important subject in school, so I insist on seeing big gains in reading in my class to insure your child's success in other subjects, and in future grades. I'm strict and insistent because I care about your child's education, and his/her future.
Please make sure that you are signed up for "Home Connect" so that you will receive notifications every time your child takes an AR or AM test. To sign up, go to my "Renaissance Place" page and click on the link to sign up. Easy, peasy.
The explanation of the Reading Level is as follows. If a student was assigned to read in the level 4.0-4.4 (1 & 2 point books), for example, the first part of the level (the 4.0-4.4) is the level of reading difficulty (grade level) of the book. The digit in the whole number place (in this case the 4) stands for the grade level (in this case 4th grade). The digit in the tenths place (in this case the zero) stands for the month of the school year (in this case it's the zero month). The first full month of the school year is September (August doesn't count because we don't have the whole month, only since August 9th), so September is month zero, October is month #1, November is month #2, etc., but not until the end of the month. So, by the end of November your child should be reading at 4.2 level, or higher, to be considered reading at grade level. So, 4.0-4.4 would mean: 4th grade zero month (4th grade, end of September) through 4th grade 4th month (4th grade, end of January). The points (1 & 2 point books in this case) represents the length of the book (the amount of words). The longer the book, the more book points it is worth.
The individual student reading levels are created by each teacher and there is no way for AR to know what levels we created unless we put computer boundaries on the students and lock them out of everything that is outside of the level we assigned. I only do that for students that show me it is required because I can no longer trust them to read in the level that I assigned them to read in. I don't do that for all students because when we read books together (which we do a great deal of), the books can not be in every students' level, so then I would have to run around the class to every student's computer to enter a monitor password that will allow them to take a test outside their reading level.
This original assigned reading level is simply a starting point. I will raise your child's reading level after s/he earns four (4) 90% or 100% scores (any combination), in his/her assigned reading level, when read independently. Or, on the other hand, if your child is struggling and getting poor AR test scores, I will lower his/her reading level.
My AR Target (AR points) is based on an AVERAGE of 1/2 (0.5) point per day. So, a 1 point book should be read in 2 days, a 2 point book should be completed in 4 days, etc. (book points x 2 = days it should take to read the book in order to be at Target). If your child is at, or above, the daily AR Target, s/he will earn 1 positive Dojo point for that day. If your child is below the daily AR Target, s/he will earn 1 negative Dojo point for that day. Students that are at least 30% above the AR Target, will be in a category called "Super Reader". Super Readers will earn an extra positive Dojo point each day they are a Super Reader, and also earn extra treats and privileges. The AR Target goes up 1/2 point per day for everyone regardless of absences. It is a very good idea to always have more points than the AR Target so there will be a safety net. Please make sure that your child is reading for at least 45-60 minutes every day Monday - Thursday as that is the regularly assigned homework. This homework started yesterday (Tuesday, 8/21/18). If you don't make sure that your child reads enough each night for homework, then s/he will probably end up under the daily AR Target. Students that are below AR Target may be required to read during certain recesses, during extra recess, and during Friday Fun Time. So please help your child by making sure that s/he is doing enough daily reading. Reading is, without a doubt, the most important subject in school, so I insist on seeing big gains in reading in my class to insure your child's success in other subjects, and in future grades. I'm strict and insistent because I care about your child's education, and his/her future.
Please make sure that you are signed up for "Home Connect" so that you will receive notifications every time your child takes an AR or AM test. To sign up, go to my "Renaissance Place" page and click on the link to sign up. Easy, peasy.
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
Here is a website that has great information on just about everything you wanted to know about reading http://www.learn-to-read-prince-george.com/why-is-reading-important.html
This is a video on the importance of reading, not just you reading to your child, but having your child read a story to you.
