by Accelerated Reader Levels

0.2 - 0.9

1.0 - 1.9

Accelerated Reader Procedures

1. At the beginning of the school year all students in grades 2 through 5 are given the STAR pretest by the AR Administrator to determine their current reading level.

2. Students check out AR books at the media center based on their AR level.

3. Students read the books; then, take the AR quizzes in their respective classrooms.  A TOP Report is issued immediately indicating whether the test was passed or failed as well as the student's current AR level.  Teachers are encouraged to use small rewards for incentives. Students should not take a quiz before reading a book under no circumstances as failing will lower their current AR level. 

4. Based on their current AR level, students use DESTINY – Our Online Catalog – to select new AR books.  Then, check books in and out at the media center during Open Time.  They need to bring their TOP report for verification of their current AR level.

5. Teachers can monitor the students progress through the Progress Reports issued by the AR Administrator at the end of each month.

6. At the end of each grading period, a Schoolwide Summary Report will allow the principal to reward the class, from each grade level, with the lowest “At-Risk” percentage, i.e., the class with the most participation in the program.  Reward can be a pizza party, a movie in their classroom complete with popcorn, or similar fun group activity.  Students who have passed at least 20 books during the grading period will have lunch with the principal.

7. At the end of the year, all students participating in the program will take a STAR posttest. Those who show progress of more than 1 year, as evidenced by the STAR Growth Report as well as the 20 Top Point Earners schoolwide will receive a medal & a book at the End-of-the-Year Honor Assembly.

Information about Accelerated Reader

Accelerated Reader vs. Non Accelerated Reader

Literary Genres

A genre is a group or collection of books with a similar theme or style. Following are descriptions of various genres.

1. EASY: Books that are written at a level for beginning readers. Pictures Books, which are a type of stories written around one or two themes with the illustrations being an integral part of the book, are a type of Easy books.  Easy books have a call number of "E" and can be found in the "EASY" section in our media center. 
    
2. FICTION: Books about make-believe stories.  Fiction books are given a call number of "F" and are located within the "FICTION" section of the library. .They comprise the following categories:
   1. Fantasy are books are a type of fiction that contain elements such as characters or settings that could not exist in life as we know it today. Examples include characters such as dragons or animals with human characteristics. Settings might be magical or other-world.
   2. Folktales are stories that have been passed down to us over the years by real people. There are many types of folktales such as:
      • Fables are brief stories that teach a lesson or moral. The characters are usually animals, but they are given human characteristics. An example of a fable is "The Fox and the Grapes."
      • Tall Tales are folktales that have a key element of exaggeration, such as Paul Bunyan.
      • Fairy Tales usually have magical elements with characters that could be fairies, giants, or elves. Many times magical deeds are performed. Cinderella is an example of a fairy tale.
      • Myths or Legends are stories that serve to explain some phenomenon of nature. Many incorporate gods and goddesses within the story. The story of King Midas is a myth.
   3. Mystery books are stories that involve a suspenseful event (often a crime of some type). The reader uses clues from the story and gradually discovers who has committed the crime to solve the mystery by the end of the story. All mysteries in our library are marked with a "Mystery" sticker and have a call number of "F" and are located alphabetically by author's name within the fiction section of the library.
   4. Realistic fiction books are those set in present-day. Characters encounter modern day difficulties and dilemmas. Realistic fiction includes mysteries, adventure stories, humorous stories, and much more. This type of book has a call number of "F" and is located alphabetically by author's name within the fiction section of the library.
   5. Historical fiction books are those that give a historically accurate portrayal of life during a particular time in history. They have a strong sense of place and time. This type of book has a call number of "F" and is located alphabetically by author's name within the fiction section of the library.

   6. Science fiction books are those based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on another planet. This type of book has a call number of "F" and is located alphabetically by author's name within the fiction section of the library.

    

3. NONFICTION: Books are informational books written by credible authors. Nonfiction books explain how things work, tell facts about many different topics, and show us how to do various things. Nonfiction books are located in a separate area of our library and use call numbers from the Dewey Decimal System.
    

4. POETRY: Books are those that include verses or poems. Poems may be humorous, serious, lyrical, or narrative (tells a story). Many poems have a rhythm and meter. Poems create imagery. Poetry books use a call number of "811" (those by American authors) or "821" (those by English authors) and are located within the nonfiction area of the library.
    
5. BIOGRAPHY: History of a person's life or parts of his/her life. A biography that is written by a person about his/her own life is called an autobiography. These are located in the BIOGRAPHY section, and have a call number of "92" in our library.  Sometimes biographies of several people are grouped together within one book. These are called collective biographies and are given the call number "920" in our library.

http://www.gcms.k12.il.us/gcmsel/lynnet/literary_genres.htm

Literary Elements

• Characters are people, animals, etc. in stories. The most important person in the story is the main character. Character traits show what a person is like and offer clues to a person's behavior and actions.
   
• Plot is the plan or pattern of events in a story. The turning point of a story is when an event happens that lets the reader know something is about to change. The climax of the story comes at the end, when the detail come together and form a resolution.
   
• Point of View is a way of looking at things. Each story is told from a person's viewpoint.
   
• Setting is where and when a story takes place. Settings can change in different parts of the story.
   
• Theme is the main subject or idea of a book.