Reading Practice Targets – Accelerated Reader UK

In Accelerated Reader, personalised targets help encourage students to read and grow, and they help teachers and students to celebrate students' success.

Target Models Based on Years

When you go to the Student Targets tab of the Record Book or to the Reading Targets Model preference, there are three target models available: the model names are based on the ages/years of your students.

Recommended for Years 1-3 (UK), Years K-2 (Australia), Years P2-P4 (Scotland and Northern Ireland), or Years SI - 2nd Class (Republic of Ireland)

This is an engaging target model for the youngest students. Students earn tokens when they pass quizzes, and those tokens count toward character badges. Teachers select the student Star test scores (or reading age) to base targets on; then, they set the expected amount of daily reading time. Based on these selections, the software calculates each student's target for passed quizzes for the students' entire school year (not individual marking periods). Targets are based on the number of tokens required for each badge because students see the targets in terms of how many badges they need to earn. For more information, see Setting Badge and Token Targets for Young Students in the Accelerated Reader Record Book and the Target-Setting Chart for Emerging Readers.
example of targets for young students as teachers see them
an example of the targets page with tokens and badges

Recommended for Years 4-6 (UK), Years 3-5 (Australia), Years P5-P7 (Scotland and Northern Ireland), or Years 3rd Class - 5th Class (Republic of Ireland)

In this target model, teachers set targets for students' average percentage correct, points earned, and reading range; these targets are selected for specific marking periods. When students view their progress, their points earned are represented by a rocket traveling toward a planet, and students can see how close they are to the target, how much time is left, and whether they are on track to meet their target. A gauge shows students whether they are meeting their average percentage correct target; a message tells the student more about how their book selection matches the reading range. Students can also see information about their reading, including the number of quizzes they have passed, the number of words they have read, and the percentage of fiction and non-fiction they have read. Below that, students can see their Star Reading and Star Maths scores if they have scores from the selected marking period. A Marking Period drop-down list lets students see whether they met past targets.
example of a teacher's view of targets for years 4 to 6
example of the student progress view for years 4 to 6

Recommended for Years 7+ (UK), Years 6+ (Australia), Years S1+ (Scotland and Northern Ireland), or Years 6th Class+ (Republic of Ireland)

This target model is similar to the previous model, but using images that are suitable for older students. As in that model, teachers set marking period targets for students' average percentage correct, points earned, and reading range. Students see all the same information; however, instead of a rocket, students are shown their points progress on a bar graph.
example of a teacher's view of targets for years 7 and up
example of the student progress view for years 7 and up

Target Types for Older Students

If you use the two target models for older students, the types of targets available are:

Average percentage correct. This is the most important target for students to achieve because it indicates that students are comprehending what they read. Average percentage correct is the average of the scores the student received on the quizzes he or she took during the marking period (passed and failed). Because some students can benefit from even more success, you have the option of increasing the target in 1 per cent increments up to 90 per cent. (The minimum target is 80%.)
Reading Range: This is a target range of book levels for a student's reading. Students see those ranges in their book ideas in Accelerated Reader to help guide their book selection; they also see their reading ranges on the student progress page. By basing reading ranges on a student's Zone of Proximal Development or Lexile® range, you can encourage students to read at levels that are likely to promote growth. Note: Reading range targets are not reflected on reports.
Points. The points target should be set for the total number of points you expect the student to earn by passing Reading Practice Quizzes and Article Quizzes during the marking period. Point targets should be based on how much daily, in-class reading practice time students receive.

Resources for Setting Targets

These resources about target-setting may help as you decide on students' targets. Accelerated Reader also helps with recommendations and with a target calculator for older students.

Reading Practice targets are different from certification targets.

If you do not want Article Quizzes to count toward student targets, you can turn off articles for a school using the Article Quiz Availability preference.