This year at James Monroe the Language Arts Department implemented the Accelerated Reader Program. The Accelerated Reader Program, or AR, is a program that is designed to help students improve their reading skills and their comprehension. This program does this by offering a variety of books for students to choose from within their appropriate reading level. A test then evaluates the literary. comprehension of the selection and awards points for passing.
Appropriate reading levels are determined by I-Ready testing scores. I-Ready is an online program that helps determine a childs progress and their strengths and weaknesses.
According to Mrs. Clark AR has three main objectives:
- To dramatically improve student reading performance, as measured by standardized tests.
- To improve student’s critical-thinking skills.
- To instill in students a lifelong love of reading.
“The best way to improve the skill of reading is to read,” said Mrs. Clark, an eighth grade language arts teacher. She is one of the many Language Arts teachers here at James Monroe that is using the program in her daily lesson plans.
All in all, the majority of the Languages Arts department believes that this program will help students evolve into better readers. That is why they decided to get this program. The objectives of AR are clear and seem to have a hopeful outlook on young readers' growth. For more information please visit AR’s official website at https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/ .