Improving Reading Achievement and Attitudes through Accelerated Reader: A Teacher's Perspective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the Accelerated Reader program on children's reading achievement and motivation to read in a senior primary school classroom. The Accelerated Reader is a computerised reading management program created by Renaissance Learning that enables teachers to monitor both the quantity and quality of reading practice engaged in by the student. Accelerated Reader is a reading incentive program designed to encourage pupils to read more and better quality books. This research studied the Accelerated Reader over a four month period with a senior class. The Neale Analysis of Reading Ability test and the Standarised Test for the Assessment of Reading were used to pre-test and post-test students and the results were analysed to ascertain if significant growth in reading achievement occurred. The Elementary Reading Attitude Survey and group interviews were utilised to investigate if the children's reading attitudes had improved as a result of the intervention. The findings of this study indicate that the Accelerated Reader program improved reading achievement and motivation to read of the participating children.

Gearóid Roughan is a Special Educational Needs Teacher in Scoil Chríost Rí, a mixed primary school in County Clare, Ireland. He obtained his Masters in Education (ICT) at MIC Limerick in 2006 while he also holds a Graduate Diploma in SEN from National University of Ireland Galway. He specialises in the role of ICT in Primary Education.