HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2012-2013 Accelerated Reader Parent/Student Handbook As schools strive to meet the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act, the stakes for teaching literacy have never been higher. To help meet those standards, schools are turning to technology and interactive software as a means of fulfilling the needs of students. Holy Ghost Catholic School has turned to Renaissance Learning Inc. as the software program for increasing reading abilities. Renaissance Learning s Accelerated Reader was recognized in the Top 5 of the 2006 Readers Choice Awards Best Reading Software for building vocabulary and reading comprehension for students in Pre-K and up.
HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC SCHOOL IS AN ACCELERATED READER SCHOOL Mission Statement To foster the love of reading in all children through a software program that motivates, monitors, and manages student reading practice. Goal To improve reading by accelerating growth in reading ability, developing lifelong learners and critical thinkers, and improving test scores. Eligible Participants All 2 nd -8 th grade students will participate in the program. Second graders will not begin the program until the 2 nd quarter. Goal Setting Students who are eligible will be assessed using the STAR Assessment Software to help determine their reading level and zone at which optimal learning takes place (ZPD). Based on this level, and the number of weeks in the quarter, teachers will determine the number of points that a student must read in order to reach his/her goal, based on a goal setting chart provided by Renaissance Learning.
Home Connect TOPS reports will not be printed; however, parents are encouraged to monitor their child s progress by visiting the Home Connect option on the RenLearn website. This is a parent s way of monitoring their child s progress from home. Simply go to https://hosted43.renlearn.com/208745/homeconnect/login.aspx, enter your child s username and password to access his/her personal progress. You can also sign up to get emails that will be sent to you when your child takes a test. A personalized letter with this information will be sent home before the first marking period of AR begins. Please remember that 3 components must be met in order for the student to reach 100% of his/her goal: Reading at his/her set book level or above Achieve average of 80% or above on comprehension on tests Earn book points until you reach 100% of goal Important Dates: * These dates do NOT necessarily following the grading periods. 1 st quarter: Aug. 27-Oct. 12 (7 weeks) 2 nd quarter: Oct. 15-Dec. 7 (7 weeks) 3 rd quarter: Dec. 10-Feb. 8 (7 weeks) 4 th quarter: Feb. 18-Mar. 28 (6 weeks) Rewards: Quarter Students will get a designated free dress day for reaching their goal each quarter. End of Year Students who reach their goal every quarter will get to ride the fair rides on Fair Friday for free during the school day.
Points Club: Students who reach the required BOOK points by the end of the AR period for the 4 th 9 weeks will become a member. As a student reaches the required points for his/her grade level, his/her name will be displayed on the bulletin board along the gym hallway under the appropriate heading and he/she will be awarded with a medal at morning assembly on the first Monday of the month. At the end of the school year, the students will be invited to an awards breakfast. To be a member of the Points Club students must reach the following book points: 2 nd graders 50; 3 rd graders 75; 4 th graders 100; 5 th graders 125; 6 th graders - 150; 7 th graders 175; and 8 th graders - 200. Please Note: Students in Grades 4-8 must read chapter books to earn their goal. Tests cannot be deleted because of a poor score. Students must complete the test in one sitting. Students who are absent cannot come to school to take an AR test AR deadlines cannot be extended for any reason.
4th Grade AR Rubric Name Final Grade /30 pts. % % of goal achieved % correct on comprehension 100% - 20 pts. 99%-94% - 19 pts. 93%-91% - 18 pts. 90%-87% - 17 pts. 86%-84% - 16 pts. 83%-81% - 15 pts. 100%-80% - 5 pts. 79%-75% - 4 pts. 74%-70% - 3 pts. 69%-60% - 2 pts. 59%-50% - 1 pt. 49%-0% - 0 pts. 80%-77% - 14 pts. 76%-74% - 13 pts. 73%-71% - 12 pts. 70%-67% - 11 pts. 66%-64% - 10 pts. 63%-61% - 9 pts. 60%-57% - 8 pts. 56%-54% - 7 pts. 53%-51% - 6 pts. Book level Correct (or above) 5 pts..1-.2 below 4 pts..3-.4 below 3 pts..5-.6 below 2 pts..7-.9 below - 1 pt. 1.0 or more 0 pts. 50%-47% - 5 pts. 46%-44% - 4 pts. 43%-41% - 3 pts. 40%-37% - 2 pts. 36%-34% - 1 pt. 33%-0% - 0 pts.
5 th /6th Grade AR Rubric Name Final Grade /45 pts. % % of goal achieved % correct on comprehension 100% - 30 pts. 99%-94% - 28.5 pts. 93%-91% - 27 pts. 90%-87% - 25.5 pts. 86%-84% - 24 pts. 83%-81% - 22.5 pts. 100%-80% - 7.5 pts. 79%-75% - 6 pts. 74%-70% - 4.5 pts. 69%-60% - 3 pts. 59%-50% - 1.5 pts. 49%-0% - 0 pts. 80%-77% - 21 pts. 76%-74% - 19.5 pts. 73%-71% - 18 pts. 70%-67% - 16.5 pts. 66%-64% - 15 pts. 63%-61% - 13.5 pts. 60%-57% - 12 pts. 56%-54% - 10.5 pts. 53%-51% - 9 pts. Book level Correct (or above) 7.5 pts..1-.2 below 6 pts..3-.4 below 4.5 pts..5-.6 below 3 pts..7-.9 below 1.5 pts. 1.0 or more 0 pts. 50%-47% - 7.5 pts. 46%-44% - 6 pts. 43%-41% - 4.5 pts. 40%-37% - 3 pts. 36%-34% - 1.5 pts. 33%-0% - 0 pts.
7th/8th Grade AR Rubric Name Final Grade /60 pts. % % of goal achieved % correct on comprehension 100% - 40 pts. 99%-94% - 38 pts. 93%-91% - 36 pts. 90%-87% - 34 pts. 86%-84% - 32 pts. 83%-81% - 30 pts. 100%-80% - 10 pts. 79%-75% - 8 pts. 74%-70% - 6 pts. 69%-60% - 4 pts. 59%-50% - 2 pts. 49%-0% - 0 pts. 80%-77% - 28 pts. 76%-74% - 26 pts. 73%-71% - 24 pts. 70%-67% - 22 pts. 66%-64% - 20 pts. 63%-61% - 18 pts. 60%-57% - 16 pts. 56%-54% - 14 pts. 53%-51% - 12 pts. Book level Correct (or above) 10 pts..1-.2 below 8 pts..3-.4 below 6 pts..5-.6 below 4 pts..7-.9 below 2 pts. 1.0 or more 0 pts. 50%-47% - 10 pts. 46%-44% - 8 pts. 43%-41% - 6 pts. 40%-37% - 4 pts. 36%-34% - 2 pts. 33%-0% - 0 pts.
Please print this page and send to school with your child. Accelerated Reader Signature Page We have read and understand the requirements set forth for Accelerated Reader for the 2012-2013 school year. Parent Signature Student Signature Printed Student Name: Student s Homeroom Teacher: