Accelerated Reader

Stromness Academy participates in the Accelerated Reader programme (AR) This is designed to improve pupils’ reading skills by encouraging them to practise reading at a level which develops their vocabulary, while keeping the challenge level of books appropriate to their reading ability. Put simply, the scheme helps our lower-school pupils to identify books which are just challenging enough. It is supported by the English Department, school library, Support for Learning, and the staff as a whole. Further information is available from our AR co-ordinator, Mrs Hunter, at the school.

Pupils have free choice of the books they wish to read, but are encouraged to try to read within their range or challenge themselves with something more difficult from time-to-time. Star Reader tests are done once a term which determines a pupil’s reading level. Guideance on making reading choices is avalable here: Choosing a Book to Read.

Every day, S1-3 classes on the programme will have 20 minutes of reading allocated to them in one of their subjects. Pupils are expected to have a book with them everyday (their own or borrowed from school or public library). If this isn’t the case, each department has a box of books from which pupils can select reading material for the 20 minute session. Alternatively, pupils, with access to a computer can read one of the articles available to them within the AR programme and do a quiz on them afterwards. Staff will be modelling good reading behaviour by doing some of their own personal reading.

Once a book is finished pupils should complete a quiz by logging into the AR website. This helps us track how they are doing as well as identifying any difficulties which might require some intervention to help them improve. Pupils can check if a book has a quiz by logging into AR, using the library catalogue, OLIVER, or using AR Bookfind.

Computers are usually available in the library for pupils to take their quizzes, both during English library periods, during the daily 20 minutes reading time or at lunchtimes.

Library books which are part of the AR programme are given coloured labels to identify the book level. Within the book labels or written notification of exact level, interest level, and points are indicated inside the book.