Date Approved

12-1999

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Education (M.Ed.)

Degree Program

College of Education

Abstract

This study focuses on the use of the Accelerated ReaderR program at Ellis Elementary School in Belding, Michigan. The students were introduced to the program in January, 1999. The students were encouraged to use the program through the end of the school year, June, 1999.

The Accelerated Reader (AR) program is a reading program which uses the computer to test students on literature-based books from the library they have read independently. Students earn points for the tests that they pass based on the number right and the difficulty of the book. The computer keeps track, for the students and teachers, of the number of tests taken, points earned and grade level of the books. The students and teachers may view the students’ reading log at any time.

At the beginning of the program, the students completed the S.T.A.R. Reading Test™ to obtain a grade-equivalent score. This score allowed them to locate books in the library at their own level In the library, the AR books are coded with colored stickers according to the level of the book. At the end of the program, the students completed the S.T.A.R. Reading test again.

A comparison was made between two third grade classrooms. A significant difference was found between the number of tests taken by students in the classroom with a teacher who incorporated the AR program into the daily curriculum, than the teacher who asked students to use the AR program as something extra. During the six months of the study there was no significant difference between the mean grade-equivalent scores for these two classrooms.

Comments

Questions or concerns regarding the copyright status of this item may be directed to scholarworks@gvsu.edu.

Download

Included in

Education Commons

Share

COinS