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Reading Programs and Teacher Support Materials Help

Accelerated Reader

Accelerated Reader (AR) is a reading incentive program and curriculum-based computer assessment tool produced by Renaissance Learning. This program is designed to motivate students to read on their own while providing teachers with a summary and analysis of the results. First, a student chooses a designated AR book based on reading level. Once the book has been read, the student takes a computerized comprehension quiz. Points are then awarded to the student based upon the number of correct answers and the point value of the book, and the teacher can review the assessment results. The teacher can set point-level goals for rewarding students with prizes or use other motivational technique. The software also provides several automatic record keeping options, while the program includes optional booster kits (such as stickers, posters, and backpacks) for student rewards.

Perma-Bound offers a wide range of AR titles, which are designated by green text within search results, lists, and title detail pages.

EXAMPLE: AR: rl:5.4 / pts:2.0 / quiz:16637 - rl refers to a reading level of 5.4 (fifth grade, fourth month), the quiz is worth two points, and the quiz number is displayed for ordering purposes.

AR Search

This search tool allows you to quickly search for products associated with the Accelerated Reader program. Use the Advanced Search tool, which can be found by clicking on the link under the search box in the top right hand corner of the website. Once search criteria has been entered and selected, press "Submit" to initiate your search. To clear all fields and begin again, press "Reset."

You can also search for AR titles through the Product Type drop-down box in advanced search:

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Reading Counts!

Reading Counts! is a motivational reading program produced by Scholastic Books that includes a wide variety of books and reading levels. After reading one of these books, a student takes a computer-based quiz to assess their comprehension. When the student passes the quiz, he or she is awarded points based on the difficulty of the text.

Perma-Bound supports the Reading Counts! program by offering an array of titles and sets. These products are designated by blue text within search results, lists, and title detail pages.

EXAMPLE: RC: rl: 2.1/ pts: 2.0 - rl refers to reading level (second grade, first month), and the title is worth two points.

Searching for RC Titles

Use the Advanced Search tool, which can be found by clicking on the link under the search box in the top right hand corner of the website. Select by RC Reading Level and RC Points Range, or by clicking on the Reading Counts! Books option in the Product Type drop-down box to generate results that are RC program specific. Once search criteria has been entered and selected, press "Submit" to initiate your search. To clear all fields and begin again, press "Reset."

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Lexile

The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to reading measurement that matches readers to text. The Lexile Framework, created by MetaMetrics, Inc., measures both reader ability and text difficulty on the same scale, generating a Lexile number and in some cases, a code. This approach allows teachers to manage reading comprehension and encourage reader progress.

Perma-Bound offers many Lexile-supported titles, which are designated by red text within search results, lists, and title detail pages.

EXAMPLE: LEX: 880 - refers to a Lexile number of 880.

Lexile Measure

A Lexile measure, as defined by MetaMetrics, is "a number indicating the reading demand of the text in terms of the semantic difficulty (vocabulary) and semantic complexity (sentence length). The Lexile scale ranges from 200 to 1700 Lexiles, although actual Lexile measures can range from below zero to above 2000 Lexiles." (04/20/00)

EXAMPLES:

Lexile Codes

Some Lexile titles include two letter codes to indicate the special characteristics of a particular text.

EXAMPLE: LEX: AD900 - an Adult-Directed text with a Lexile number of 900.

Searching for Lexile Titles

Use the Advanced Search tool, which can be found by clicking on the link under the search box in the top right hand corner of the website. Select by Lexile number to generate results that are Lexile program specific. Once search criteria has been entered and selected, press "Submit" to initiate your search. To clear all fields and begin again, press "Reset."

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Viewing Options

Reading Program Viewing Options are initially chosen upon registering with Perma-Bound.com. You can alter which reading programs are displayed within your lists, search results, and title detail pages at any time.

To change Reading Program Viewing Options:

  1. Navigate to the My Information section of the "My Account" page and click on the My Preferences tab.
  2. Add or remove the check-mark for Accelerated Reader, Reading Counts!, or Lexile by clicking within the respective box.
  3. Click on "Submit".

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Teacher Support Materials

Perma-Bound provides a number of different types of teacher support materials. They include Teacher's Guides, Perma-Guides, Shared Reading Guides, Novel Units, and Student Packets. To search for any of these materials online, use the Advanced Search and select them in the Product Type drop-down menu.

Teacher's Guide

A source of activities and assessment tools for a given title. Each Teacher's Guide includes a summary/synopsis, a contextual timeline of the story (or the author's life), brief notes on literary criticism, specific and general objectives for presenting the material, definitions of helpful literary terms, and ideas for the cross-curricular use of the title (such as art, science, social studies, etc.). They also contain a "Meaning Study" for teaching words that might be new to a student and an associated vocabulary test, a "Comprehension Study" which includes discussion questions pertaining to the text's themes and motifs, two multiple choice and essay tests for evaluating the student's grasp of the work, and suggested activities for reinforcing concepts from the work. Teacher's Guides are researched and created by Perma-Bound's professional staff.

NOTE: With the purchase of a classroom allotment of 20 or more of the same book title, you will receive the associated Teacher's Guide free of charge.

Perma-Guide

Contains all the components of a Teacher's Guide in greater detail along with strategies for presenting the material to three distinctly different groups of students-At Risk, On Level, and Enriched. Perma-Guides also contain additional activities, reproducible student work sheets, two objective and essay tests with answer keys, and ideas for alternate forms of student assessment. Perma-Guides are researched and created by Perma-Bound's Professional Staff.

Shared Reading Guide

Actual title - A Guide to a Shared Reading Experience with Big Books. This generic guide is intended for use by teachers who are presenting material to young learners using a Big Book with accompanying volumes young learners can hold individually. The guide defines the teacher's and students' roles in using Big Books, discusses prior knowledge necessary for comprehending the material, reinforces the need for reading/rereading the material, emphasizes reading skills and strategies, describes printing conventions, stresses letter-sound relationships and rhyming, provides ideas for guided and independent reading, and recommends cross curricular activities that relate to material from the Big Book. The guide also provides suggestions for assigning homework, evaluation methods, and a glossary of terms. The Shared Reading Guide was researched and created by Perma-Bound's professional staff.

Novel Unit

Each unit includes a summary of the title, author background, pre- and post-reading activities, a vocabulary section, discussion questions, ideas for writing projects, literary analysis, cross-curriculum extension activities, and ideas for assessment.

Student Packet

Includes a Novel Unit guide for a given title, pre-reading activities, study questions, vocabulary activities, literary analysis, writing projects, critical thinking challenges, quizzes and a final exam with answer key. Student packets feature an average of 44 pages of multiple-level reproducibles.

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FAQs - Reading Programs and Teacher Support Materials

What's the difference between the various reading levels?

AR Reading Levels refer to the Accelerated Reader program and will match the basic Reading Level assigned by Perma-Bound where applicable. RC Reading Levels refer to the Reading Counts! program produced by Scholastic, which follows a separate scale.

How do I change which reading programs are displayed within my search results and lists?

  1. Navigate to the My Information section of the "My Account" page and click on the My Preferences tab.
  2. Add or remove the check-mark for Accelerated Reader, Reading Counts!, or Lexile by clicking within the respective box.
  3. Click on "Submit".

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