Using Focus Skills to ensure understanding and mastery

Ellis Guilford Comprehensive School, Nottingham

I want to make use of the data more for teachers and I’m hoping, in time, our teachers will have a better grasp of Accelerated Reader and Star Reading. I think the Star Reading programme will be invaluable for our teachers because once you know whether pupils are growing or not, you can now group them and use the instructional planning report to see what individual skills each pupil has mastered and what they are yet to master, still. Therefore, if teachers begin to regularly work with their individual groups more often then they will be able to offer more appropriate intervention, subsequently allowing them to share this vital data with other teachers.

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, EAL, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement, Target Setting

A solid support system from Renaissance

Reachout and Jonan High School, Japan

I introduced myON and Star Assessment at Reachout and Jonan High School, and both schools are doing very well. I incorporate myON news into regular lessons that are not extensive reading. Project function is great, and we make heavy use of it.

Talking Points: Assessment, Independent Reading, Intervention, Motivation, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement

A noticeable new reading culture

Dunstone Primary School, Plymouth

We spoke to Teaching Assistant (TA), Sally Geary, who has been with the school for twelve years. Sally was only recently appointed the primary contact for Accelerated Reader since January 2019. With the help of a team of dedicated TAs, Sally oversees the daily maintenance and effective administration of the Accelerated Reader and Star Reading programmes. The team have one goal, to help nurture a love of reading for all pupils. 

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Parents, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Age, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, SATs, Student Engagement, Target Setting, Whole-School Literacy

Belvedere British School, UAE

Belvedere British School, UAE, United Arab Emirates

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Intervention, Motivation, Professional Development, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Student Engagement

The Galaxy School, India – myON by Renaissance Experience

The Galaxy School, India, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.

Talking Points: Independent Reading, Motivation, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Target Setting

Why we chose myON

Devizes School, Saltergate Junior School, and Prescot Primary School, Nationwide

Members of staff from three different schools across the country explain why they invested in myON during school closures. They explain how myON has enabled their pupils to continue reading development while learning from home, and discuss how their schools will continue to use myON going into the new academic year.

Talking Points: Incentives, Library Use, Motivation, Progress Monitoring, Reading Age, Reading At Home, Reading for Pleasure, Student Engagement

The north east multi-academy trust with a new-look assessment strategy

Wise Academies, North East

We spoke to Natalie Fountain, Executive Head and Regional Hub Leader (Sunderland) who has been in her role at Wise Academies for almost two years about how the trust use Accelerated Reader.

Talking Points: Assessment, Data, Data Review, Independent Reading, Intervention, Motivation, Ofsted, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Workload, Student Engagement

Renaissance at home – Margaret Allen Speaks to the school with the Complete Literacy Solution

Prescot Primary School, Merseyside

Margaret was joined by Lisa Seddon, Deputy Headteacher and Dawn Malloy, Librarian/HLTA at Prescot Primary School. Together, they discussed all things assessment, digital libraries and reading for pleasure during school closures due to Covid-19, March 2020.

Talking Points: Assessment, Data Review, Library Use, Motivation, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Schoo, Student Engagement

The Trust with the new Reading and Assessment Strategy

Chiltern Learning Trust, Bedfordshire

Seven schools across the Chiltern Learning Trust use Renaissance solutions. We spoke to Nicola Hickton, Associate Assistant Head and Director of Standards for English in the trust, and Klaudia Jablonska, Literacy Lead at Putteridge High School. They shared their experiences and how Accelerated Reader and Star Reading are used both within the school and across the trust as a whole.

Talking Points: Assessment, Data, EAL, Equality, Independent Reading, Intervention, Motivation, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Staff Engagement, Student Engagement

Reading ages, pupil wellbeing and exam readiness: setting our pupils up for life

Glenrothes High School, Fife

From improving reading ages, an increased focus on pupils' mental wellbeing, and increased confidence and readiness for exams, Graeme Keir shares the impact that Accelerated Reader has had on his school.

Talking Points: Attainment, Attainment Gap, Book Stock, Data, GCSE Preparation, Library Use, Mental Wellbeing, Motivation, Parents, Reading Age