1. ACCELERATED
READER – An
Essential
Practice for
Reading
Success
Action Inquiry Project
Carolin Hardesty
University Colorado Denver, 2011

2. The purpose of my research is to find
out how I can utilize Renaissance
Learning’s Accelerated Reader, to the
fullest extent possible, to improve
student academic success in reading.

3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 1) What can I do to help promote the Accelerated Reader
program in my class so that it encourages students to read?
 2) How can I incorporate AR into my daily classroom
routines?
 3) Can successfully integrating AR assist low performing
students reach grade level?
 4) What are the best practices of AR?

5. 30-60 minutes of reading time is
needed daily!

6. QUIZ TIME!

7. CONTROVERSY
 Recall only  Intrinsic vs.
Extrinsic
 No higher order
thinking skills  -Prizes vs. Praises
required
COMPREHENSION REWARDS

8. Improved oral reading fluency of 4 to 20 words
per minute in low performing students.
Estimated Oral Reading Fluency
110
101
98
100
92
88
90
83
79 79
Number of words per minute
80
70 65
59 60
60
50 Pre Test
40 Post Test
30
20
10
0
GA LA PA GC ZK
Students

9. Improved scores of 2 months to 6 months in
reading levels of low performing students.
Grade Equivalent Reading Level
4 3.8
3.6
3.5 3.4
3.3
3.1
3 2.9 2.9
2.5
Grade Equivalent
2.5 2.3 2.3
2
Pre Test
1.5 Post Test
1
0.5
0
GA LA PA GC ZK
Students

10. “Can I take an AR quiz?”

11. CREDITS
 Staff at Rozet Elementary
 Selected students at Rozet Elementary
 Renaissance Learning: Advanced Technology for Data Driven Schools. (2011).
Retrieved from http://www.renlearn.com
 (2007). Getting Results with Accelerated Reader. United States of American: Renaissance
 Persinger, JM (2001). What Are the Characteristics of a Successful Implementation of
Accelerated Reader?. Knowledge Quest (1094-9046), 29(5), p.30.
 Institute for Academic Excellence. (1997, November). Toward a balanced approach to reading
motivation. Retrieved from http://www.eric.edgov/PDFS/ED421687.pdf
 Biggers, D. (2001). The argument against accelerated reader. Journal of Adolescent & Adult
Literacy, 45(1), 72. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
 Krashen, S. (2002). Accelerated Reader: Does it work? If so, why?. School Libraries in Canda,
22(2), 24. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.