Accelerated Reader Ratings?

Question

I have a few questions about AR ratings on children's books.

I've been looking for a list on line- but i am finding differing ratings on different lists. (One, for an example, rated "The Eygpt Game" in the mid 4s, another in the mid 5s.) Is there one list that is BETTER (or more correct) than the rest? What do these initials stand for (at the top of a AR list)?

IL (I am figuring illustrated) & BL

Thanks

Answer 1

Here is a link to a school that has their list on their web site. It has titles & levels. http://www.nbps.k12.wi.us/teachers/lofym/arlistleve.pdf

Answer 2

I am a children's librarian and I volunteer in my daughters' school media center, where I see a lot of "AR" books. I don't know all the answers, but will try to help a little.

Each school buys its own tests from Renaissance Learning, who created the AR program; therefore, each school will have a different set of tests available for their students. In addition, each school has the ability to add up to (I think) 500 teacher-made tests to its system. When this happens, very often the teacher, or whoever created the test, will estimate the reading level and number of words in the book. These two factors, plus the number of questions on the quiz, contribute to the number of "points" a certain book is worth. This is very likely the reason you are finding different reading (AR) levels on the same book. Also, a few years back, the reading levels were re-evaluated, so you may be finding older lists online with the old reading level. In my daughters' elementary school library, they had to go through and check and re-label each book. It was tedious!

The readability level on each book is determined using the ATOS for Books formula, which uses the entire text of the book rather than just sample pages. You can read more about this method on the AR program's website: http://www.renlearn.com/ar/overview/ReadabilityBrochure.pdf

Still, many parents and teachers find the levels assigned to many books to be a bit off -- that is, a picture book may have a reading level of 5.2, which may actually be the case, but that doesn't mean that only children at the 5th grade level should read it, because picture books are usually more often enjoyed by younger children who have them read aloud to them. Young children typically can comprehend much higher level books when they are read aloud, but the high AR reading level on a lot of these picture books is off-putting to many children, who will avoid these books because they think they're too difficult.

The initials "IL" stand for "Interest Level" and the choices are LG (lower grades), MG (middle grades), and UG (upper grades). BL is new to me...could it be the same as RL for reading level? Basal level? I don't know that one. Book level?

As far as the best list for you, I would say that the correct list for you to refer to would be the one at your child's school, because that is the level that those teachers will use.

I hope that helps!