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In KS3 (Years 7-9) all students take part in the Accelerated Reader programme, which is designed to do the following things:

• Find books that are the right ability for your child

• Encourage your child to read more

• Improve your child’s reading ability.

HOW IT WORKS:

At the start of the year every student took a Star Test, which is a computer-based test that measures a student’s reading ability through a series of 34 questions.

Every test for every student is different, and the computer selects different questions for each student dependent on how well they answer the previous questions. Essentially, the computer adapts the test to suit your child. You daughter may have already taken their Star Test. If not, she will soon.

Once the student has completed the test, they are then given a ZPD score by their teacher.

HOW STAR TESTS WORK:

1) The student must take their time. It is recommended that each child should spend at least 20 minutes on their tests. Students are used to

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working quickly in timed conditions, but during a STAR test it is about concentration, focus and careful reading.

2) Students should not guess answers to questions. Instead, they should wait for the question to time out. This is to ensure the computer is not given a false impression of the student’s reading ability.

3) Tests are done in exam conditions without any help from other students or the teacher.

ZPD is two numbers that the student uses to choose their next reading book. The lowest number is the lowest level of book the student should be choosing. The highest number is the highest level of book the student should be choosing.

Students keep a record of all their ZPDs in their planners. A new STAR test takes place regularly, so students can see improvements in their reading ability, but also choose more challenging books.

However…

Accelerated Reader is quite new to us, as a school. Our library is quite limited.

Students may wish to read a book from home or buy a new book to use as their Accelerated Reader book.

That’s fine! That would be wonderful! PLEASE DO!

A ZPD score is given to your child after completing the STAR test

All the AR books in the school library have their ZPD number clearly marked on them. Students should only choose books within

their numbers.

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Our Book Recommendations Note: Those highlighted in blue, at the top of the list, are WGS favourites!

Name Author Book Level

Skellig David Almond 3.5

Once Morris Gleitzman 4.1

The London Eye Mystery Siobhan Dowd 4.1

Flood Child Emily Diamand 4.5

Holes Louis Sachar 4.6

Wonder RJ Palacio 4.8

The Prince Who Walked with Lions Elizabeth Laird 5.1

Theodore Boone John Grisham 5.2

The Thieves of Ostia Caroline Lawrence 5.2

Chains Laurie Halse Anderson 5.2

Hatchet Gary Paulsen 5.7

The Giver Lois Lowry 5.7

Coram Boy Jamila Gavin 6.3

Boy James Mayhew 1.6

Angel House Anne Curtis 1.7

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Carl Bowen 3

The Tell-Tale Heart Benjamin Harper 2.4

Pale Chris Wooding 2.9

Shine Candy Gourlay 3.5

The Secret Garden Pauline Francis 3.6

The Murders in the Rue Morgue Carl Bowen 3.6

Apple and Rain Sarah Crossan 3.8

Oliver Twist Pauline Francis 4.1

Treasure Island Pauline Francis 4.1

Pig-Heart Boy Malorie Blackman 4.3

Charlotte's Web E B White 4.4

The Witches Roald Dahl 4.7

The Weight of Water Sarah Crossman 4.7

The 13 Secrets Michelle Harrison 4.8

The Art of Being Normal Lisa Williamson 4.8

Above World Jen Reese 5

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13-3/4 Sue Townsend 5.1

Call of the Wild Pauline Francis 5.3

The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins 5.3

War Horse Michael Morpurgo 5.9

Northern Lights/The Golden Compass Phillip Pullman 6.2

The Hobbit JRR Tolkein 6.6

Have another book you’d like to read? See if it’s on the

Accelerated Reader list at:

https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/default.aspx

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