Q: How long should my child read each night?

A: The amount of time varies depending on age.  Kindergarten and 1st grade students often still need their parents to read to them.  Read to them each night for about 15 minutes.  Students in grades 2 - 5 should be able to read by themselves for about 20-30 minutes a night. 

Q: What are the goals my child has to reach each nine weeks?

A: The three goals are: Points, Book Level and Percentage Correct.  All students are suppose to maintain an 85% for their percentage correct goal.  The point and book level goals will vary based on the students ability level. PLEASE contact your child's teacher to find out your child's goals.

Q: How Does the AR Point System work?

A: Each book on the AR list is assigned a point value based on its readability level and length.  After students take an AR quiz on a book, they receive points based on the point value of a book and their score on the quiz.

Q: How does the teacher determine my child's book level goal?

A:  There are two main criteria in setting this goal:

1) At J. C. Sawyer we have a computerize program called STAR that test students reading achievement.  This test is given each nine weeks.

2) Student success during the previous nine weeks in AR.

Q: How does the teacher determine my child's point goal?

A: After your child's book level goal has been established then the district has a point setting chart that teachers use to determine this goal.

Q: How can I find out if the books we have at home are AR books?

A: Simply click on the "link" called Reading Renaissance Book Finder website.  At this site you can look-up books to find their point value and book level.

Q: How can I find out if my child is meeting his/her goal?

A: Contact your child's teacher and/or check your child's bookbag nightly to see if he/she has Top Report.  The Top Report can show you how your child did on that AR quiz and were he/she is on the goals for that nine weeks period.