To help promote a love of reading, students read at their own pace and choose their own books. Once a student finishes a book, he takes a quiz on the computer and receives points depending on his reading level and quiz score. Teachers and parents also receive immediate feedback on student's vocabulary and reading progress. To increase the incentive to read, schools can correlate a student's points with prizes and rewards.
To find books, students search for available titles on the ARBookFinder website. Much like a library database, parents, students and teachers can search for books by title, author, subject, point value and reading level. Many schools ask that students only read within their level to ensure a high RAP, or Reading Accuracy Percentage. To determine their reading levels, students take a Standard Test of Achievement in Reading (STAR).
Within the Accelerated Reader program are four types of quizzes. Reading practice quizzes ask students about the book to measure comprehension. Vocabulary practice quizzes help readers improve their vocabulary knowledge and skills. For beginning readers, recorded voice quizzes allow students to take the tests on their own with the help of a narrator. The literacy skills quiz asks more difficult questions that require students to use 24 different reading skills.
According to the Renaissance Learning website, 155 research studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of the AR program. The Florida Center for Reading Research found that students who used the program in addition to their basic reading studies increased their progress more than students with only basic instruction. The Florida Center also found that students who completed AR reading quizzes, as opposed to book reports, experienced greater reading comprehension.
The Accelerated Reader program has been motivating students to read books within their grade levels for more than 20 years. Students, parents and teachers receive immediate results after a quiz, allowing them to pinpoint any problems early on. Despite these strengths, according to the Florida Center for Reading Research, AR does have a few weaknesses. Though the program offers a substantial list of book titles, students are limited to the books available at their school. The Florida Center also points out that quizzes do not test critical thinking skills.