Let the 2nd Nine Weeks Begin

This week begins the 2nd grading period of the year. On Monday the students will receive the new homework schedule and the new spelling and vocabulary word lists. These will also be posted on the website. This is a short grading period with several special events cutting into our instructional time. Please do all that you can to make sure that your child is at school every day.

If you have looked at the homework schedule, you will have noticed that in the reading log column it states my expectation that each student earns at least 2 AR points each week. In class we read at least one AR book every week, usually more. Furthermore, they go to the library each week and are expected to check out AR books there also. I have discovered from conversations with some you that I have not been clear enough about the AR program and how it works. So let me explain.

Accelerated Reader (AR), is simply a large bank of quizzes that the students have access to at school. These are not special books that they can find only at school. An AR book is simply a book for which there is a quiz in the AR program. (Many of the book tests also have a separate vocabulary test.) I am adding a link in the sidebar to the site AR Bookfinder. The students are familiar with this site. It is a database of all AR quizzes and includes information like the book's reading level and point value. The site allows you to search by title and author as well as by subject if your child is interested in something in particular.

Back to the AR expectations, whatever students are reading at home, it is probably an AR book and they should plan to bring the book to school so that they may test on it. By way of an incentive, we are participating in the Book It! program through which students can earn a free personal size pizza at Pizza Hut if they make the monthly reading goal. October's goal is 10 points. Many students have already met the goal or are very close. Several however have not been quizzing on what they are reading and have a ways to go. Please ask your child how they are doing in AR a few times each week. If you have any questions I have not answered about the program, please let me know.

AR tests can only be taken at school, but two of the programs we use that can be used at home are IStation and Think Through Math. I know many of you have your children using these at home already. If not, please let me know and I will send you the information you need to get started.