how to become a better reader

10 Reasons to Use Accelerated Reader With Your Kids

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Teaching a child to read — and the importance of reading — can be a parent or teacher's most difficult task, but the Accelerated Reader program makes it easier than ever. The software helps kids and their parents and teachers find books at the child's reading levels, and it quizzes them afterwards to make sure they understood what they read. It also helps parents and teachers to guide and monitor a child's progress. Here are some more reasons why you should consider using it:

Independence

The program encourages kids to read independently. They're able to work at their own pace, which can set them up for a lifetime of reading on their own, whether it's for pleasure or education.

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Guidance

Teachers and parents who use the program can guide children to appropriate reading material. Many children find they don't like to read because they aren't reading something appropriate for their reading skills or because they can't find books they enjoy.

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All Ages

The Accelerated Reader program is suited for kids in kindergarten all the way up through high school. As a rule, it's more widely used with elementary school students and sometimes middle school students, but it can be a great tool for all ages.

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Variety

There are nearly 200,000 books available to choose from when you use the Accelerated Reader program. That means even the pickiest of readers are likely to find something they enjoy.

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Levels

If you aren't sure what reading level your child is on, the program provides an initial quiz to help you determine where to start. The results are based on grade levels. You may have a fifth-grader who's reading on a fourth-grade level, and that shows parents and teachers there's work to be done.

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College and Real World Prep

According to Renaissance, the company that produces the Accelerated Reader software, the program has a tremendous success rate. A study conducted showed that kids who used the program during their formative years were twice as likely to go on and find success in college or in a career after high school.

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Goals and Challenges

Teachers and parents who use the program can set a goal number of points for each child to work towards. For every book the child reads, they receive a number of points based on the book's level of difficulty. Having that goal gives children even more motivation to read and achieve

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Difficulties

If a child is simply reading a book but having trouble with it, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what the problem is. However, with the Accelerated Reader program, you can take a look at quiz results, the types of books chosen and the number of points earned to try to determine what aspect of reading the child needs help with.

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Collaboration

If your child is using the software in school, you can keep up with their progress along with the teacher. There's a portal that allows parents to check in and see what their kids are reading and if they're succeeding on the quizzes. If you spot an issue, you can set up a meeting with the teacher to discuss a plan of action to help fix it.

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Learning Disabilities

While Accelerated Reader may not be suitable for every single child, it can benefit some children who have short attention spans or learning disabilities. It sets realistic goals that may be easier to follow than what the parent or teacher chooses for that child.

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