• Accelerated Reader

    Accelerated Reader is a reading accountability program that all language arts classes participate in here at MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School.  The objective of Accelerated Reader is to have every student independently read and comprehend grade-level texts.  To reach this aim, students are required to choose any book from a list of over 200,000 titles and read it within the teacher-established deadline.  At the end of this time, students will take a ten to twenty-question comprehension quiz on the computer.  If a student receives a 70% or better, the student passes the quiz and receives credit for the words in the book.

    Every grade level has a yearly word goal, and the goal is reached by passing tests on the computer system.  The annual goals are:

    • 6th Grade – 600,000 words
    • 7th Grade – 700,000 words
    • 8th Grade – 800,000 words

    Frequently asked questions:

    How can a student access Accelerated Reader?

    Students can access Reading Counts from any computer with internet access.  Find the login information on the ELA Links page.  

    How much should each student read?

    Individual students read at different rates, but a good guideline is 30 minutes a night.  Generally, students should choose books that they can finish in a two-week time frame when committing to 30 minutes a night.

    Where do we get A.R. books?

    Anywhere books are available!  The school library is open during school hours.  Most language arts teachers have classroom libraries, too.  Even the books you may have around your home may be on Accelerated Reader.  You can find A.R. books in bookstores, public libraries, and online as well.  There is so much book availability that having an Accelerated Reader book is a required supply for MacArthur students.

    How do we know if a book is on Accelerated Reader?

    Use the online catalog here.

    How does a student know how many words they are at for the year?

    Whenever students have access to the program, they can check their progress.  The report is a PDF that they can save it to their Google Drive to share with parents or use as a reference for themselves.  Also, they may be able to print it out in their classrooms, the library, or at home, depending on the availability that the teacher has established.

    How is a student graded on Accelerated Reader?

    Individual teacher policies will vary, but independent reading is 20% for all MacArthur ELA classes.  Questions should be directed to the language arts teacher.

     

     

     

  • Reading Plus

    An alternative program to Accelerated Reader, Reading Plus is a reading accountability program with a more targeted approach through leveled, short texts designed to be completed in a single setting.  Unlike Accelerated Reader, Reading Plus is completed entirely online.  However, it does have a similar advantage of student choice in reading selections.  The program includes four types of assignments:

    1. See Readers: The most common type of Reading Plus assignment, See Readers guide students through the text one line at a time as assessed by their reading rate.  Once students get through the text, they have a series of comprehension questions to complete.  Students successfully pass the See Reader if they complete the comprehension questions with an 80% or better score.
    2. Read Arounds: To practice vocabulary skills, students complete Read Arounds.  This assignment includes sight recognition of words as well as in-context practice.  Read Arounds are significantly shorter than See Readers, typically taking about 5 minutes to complete.  Also, students cannot "fail" Read Arounds.  They will not move onto new words until they can successfully recognize and use the word in context.
    3. iBalance: In order to improve the visual skill set required for tracking lines in reading, the iBalance assignments are game-like activities where students distinguish patterns along a line of text.  Most students will not have to complete iBalance assignments regularly because it targets the physical, motor skills of reading.  
    4. InSight Assessment: Given at the beginning of the school year, students will generally complete this assignment entirely in class.  The InSight Assessment gauges student reading a vocabulary ability in order to build assignment levels and recommendations for the other Reading Plus activities.

    Frequently asked questions:

    How can a student access Reading Plus?

    Students can access Reading Plus from any computer with internet access.  Find the login information on the ELA Links page.  

    How much of Reading Plus should be completed as homework?

    Most students in the Reading Plus program will be given significant class time to finish and should have minimal work to complete at home.  However, depending on the reading rate of each student, some students may need to finish their Reading Plus assignments at home.  A general guideline is that students should not be spending much more than 20 minutes a night on Reading Plus.  Unfortunately, when students procrastinate until Thursday night, which is the final day to complete Reading Plus assignments each week, they may spend several hours trying to catch up.  If students are not finishing the assignments in class at school, make sure to establish a nightly routine to avoid too much work on any Thursday night.

    How can I track the progress of a student on Reading Plus?

    From the "Dashboard" screen, students can see how many assignments they have left for any given week.  They also have access to see their success rates, gains in reading levels, vocabulary levels, and reading rates.  Any of these reports can be accessed at any time.

    How is a student graded on Reading Plus?

    Individual teacher policies will vary, but independent reading is 20% for all MacArthur ELA classes.  Questions should be directed to the language arts teacher.

  • Lexia

    An additional support program, Lexia is a program for language practice with a more targeted approach through vocabulary, grammar, and leveled, short texts designed to be completed in a single setting.  Similar to Reading Plus, Lexia is completed entirely online.  However, it does have a similar advantage of student choice in reading selections.  The program includes three types of assignments:

    1. Word Study focuses on word recognition, definition, and spelling as well as developing an understanding of Latin and Greek word origins to broaden and deepen students' vocabulary skills.
    2. Grammar introduces the mechanical functions of sentence structure and punctuation, including parts of speech, parts of sentences, and text structures.
    3. Comprehension pairs specific, reading strategies to a variety of fiction and non-fiction selections.

    Frequently asked questions:

    How can a student access Lexia?

    Students can access Lexia from their Chromebooks, or any laptop, with an internet connection.  Click here for directions on accessing Lexia from home.

    How much of Lexia should be completed as homework?

    Most students in the Lexia program will be given significant class time to finish and should have minimal work to complete at home.  However, depending on the motivation of each student and whether they are placed in a support class, they may have to complete some Lexia at home.  A general guideline is that students should not be spending much more than 20 minutes a night on Lexia.  

    How can I track the progress of a student on Lexia?

    From the "Dashboard" screen, students can monitor their progress for each strand, how much time they have spent for the week on that strand, and how many units they have completed for that week.  Teachers may grade by units completed as opposed to time spent in the program.

    How is a student graded on Lexia?

    Individual teacher policies will vary, but teachers will assess the progress, the time spent, or the units completed over a given time to account for student grades.

    How can I help my student do well in Lexia?

    Review this guide on how to best support your child in Lexia.