Introducing:  

Renaissance Reading

Our school has always had a strong emphasis on developing vital reading skills, starting with our phonics program in the early years.  In ABCs, students start out learning to read.  As they progress through the early years the emphasis shifts to reading to learn. This progression is vital for ongoing learning success.  

We are pleased to introduce a new program called Renaissance Accelerated Reader.  Accelerated Reader is an online platform that helps teachers gauge reading comprehension and guide students towards the best books for them, to keep them engaged and increase their literacy ability. This includes both online books and hardcopy books.  Students will have access to thousands of online texts also matched to their ability and interests.  

Initial diagnostic testing of student reading levels has commenced. This will give teachers the ability to see at a glance which students need extra help, who is reading well and who is excelling. The data on students’ reading skills will enable teachers to set goals, respond quickly to student needs, monitor progress, and maximise growth. Once the information is collated and access to books finalised, students will be 'matched' with the best books for them.  After each book, there is a quiz to monitor comprehension and check progress. Immediate and regular feedback helps motivate students to progress towards specific goals. 

We look forward to developing a stronger reading culture in our school – even in this technological age the ability to read well remains essential for academic achievement and lifelong learning.