Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading Findings from the National Literacy Trust’s 2012 annual literacy survey on reading enjoyment, reading behaviour outside class and reading attitudes Christina Clark National Literacy Trust 2013 About the National Literacy Trust We are the only national charity dedicated to raising literacy levels in the UK. Our research and analysis make us the leading authority on literacy. We run projects in the poorest communities, campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians and parents, and support schools. Visit www.literacytrust.org.uk to find out more, donate or sign up for a free email newsletter. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Copyright © National Literacy Trust 2013. You may report on findings or statistics included in this report if you accredit them to the National Literacy Trust. Suggested reference for this report is: Clark, C. (2013). Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading. Findings from the National Literacy Trust’s 2012 annual literacy survey on reading enjoyment, reading behaviour outside class and reading attitudes. London: National Literacy Trust. We will consider requests to use extracts or data from this publication provided that you: • Acknowledge that the content is the work of the National Literacy Trust and provide appropriate references in any publications or accompanying publicity; • State that any views expressed are yours and not necessarily those of the National Literacy Trust. © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 2 Acknowledgements We would like to thank the pupils and staff at the following schools without whom the annual literacy survey would not have been possible: Abingdon Primary School, Acklam Grange School, Alde Valley School, Alexandra College of Enterprise, All Saints Primary School, Ampleforth College, Archbishop Holgate's School, Archibald Primary School, Ark Academy, Ashdale PRU, Ashlyns School, Ashtree Primary School and Nursery, Aston Tower Community Primary School, Attleborough High School, Bangor Grammar School, Barham Primary School, Barnfield West Academy, Bay House School & Sixth Form, Bedford Primary School, Belmont School, Berry Hill Primary School, Berwick Hills Primary, Birdwell Primary School, Birkenhead High School Academy, Blackheath Bluecoat School, Blenheim High School, Bluecoat Academy, Boston Spa School, Breckon Hill Primary School, Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, Brighton Avenue Primary School, Bristol Brunel Academy, Bromstone Primary School, Canon Slade School, Carlton Bolling College, Carter Community School, Castletown Primary School, City of Armagh High School, Clavering Primary School, Copley High School, Corpus Christi Catholic Sports & Technology College, Costessey Junior School, Cramlington Learning Village, Doon Academy, Easterside Primary School, Ecclesfield School, Emmaus Catholic and C of E Primary School, Engayne Primary School, English Martyrs School, Esher C of E High School, Farnsfield St Michael's C of E Primary School, Fearnhill School, Feversham College, Field Lane J I & N School, Forest Gate Community School, Foyle College, Francis Askew Primary School, George Green's School, Glebelands Primary School, Glounthaune National School, Grange Technology College, Gravesend Grammar School, Green Lane Primary and Nursery School, Hall Mead School, Hammersmith Academy, Hampstead School, Hanham Abbots Junior School, Harlaw Academy, Haywood Engineering College, Hemlington Hall Primary School, Hethersett High School, Highfield Humanities College, Hillside High School, Holbrook Primary School, Holloway School, Holmer Green Senior School, Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy, Isleham C of E Primary School, James Calvert Spence College, John Taylor High School, Kader Primary School, King Edward VI School, The Kings Academy, Kingsham Primary School, Kingsmead School, Kingsway Park High School, Knutsford Academy, La Sainte Union Catholic School, Lakers School, Lampton School, Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Le Rocquier School, Lingfield Primary School, Linthorpe Community Primary School, Longfield Academy, Longhill High School, Lord Grey School, Lordswood Girls’ School, LVS Ascot, Macaulay Primary School, Macmillan Academy, Marling School, Marton Manor Primary School, Meden School, Meopham Community Academy, Mile Oak Primary School, Millbrook Academy, Millom School, Monk’s Walk School, Mount Grace School, Newham Bridge Primary School, Newman Catholic College, Niddrie Mill Primary School, NLL Academy, North Ormesby Primary Academy, Oakbank School, Oakfield Pupil Referral Unit, The Whartons Primary School, Pallister Park Primary School, Pangbourne College, Park End Primary School, Park Junior School, Passmores Academy, Paston Ridings Primary School, Pennyman Primary Academy, Perivale Primary School and Children's Centre, Poltair School, Portslade Aldridge Community Academy, Prestwick Academy, Prince Bishop School, Retford Oaks Academy, Rodborough Primary School, Rose Wood Primary School, Roxeth Primary School, Sackville School, Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School, Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Saffron Green Primary School, Shebbear College, Shevington High School, Sir Herbert Leon Academy, Somerset Bridge Primary School, St Brigid’s School, St George's Bickely CE Primary School, St Gerard's RC Primary School, St James Hatcham CE Primary School, St Mary's Calne, St Mary's RC Primary School, St Paul’s Catholic College, St Swithun Wells Catholic Primary School, St. Peter's C of E Primary School, St. Luke and St. Philip's C of E Primary School, Stoke Damerel Community College, Sutton Community Academy, Swanshurst School, Templars Primary & Nursery School, The Angmering School, The Causeway School, The City of Portsmouth Girls’ School, The Crest Girls' Academy, The Emmbrook School, The Fallibroome Academy, The Hurst Community College, The Isle of Sheppey Academy, The Manor Academy, The Matthew Arnold School, The Priory City of Lincoln Academy, The Romsey School, The Stonehenge School, The Voyager Academy, Thornton Grammar School, © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 3 Thorntree Primary School, Towers School & Sixth Form Centre, Ulverston Victoria High School, University Academy Keighley, Verulam School, West Craven High Technology College, West Earlham Junior School, Westergate Community School, Willingdon Community School, Woking High School, Woodstock CE Primary School, Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog, Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Penmorfa, Ysgol Tir Morfa . © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 4 Table of contents Acknowledgements 3 Table of contents 5 Tables and figures 6 Executive summary 7 Introduction 9 Some notes on the sample 9 Findings 10 Children and young people who use AR enjoy reading more, are more likely to have a favourite book, read more frequently and a greater variety of fiction genres, and are more likely to believe that reading is cool than children and young people who do not use AR 10 Reading enjoyment 10 Reading outside class 10 Attitudes towards reading 11 Boys using AR are more likely to enjoy reading, to do it more often and to think more positively about reading than boys not using AR. Girls show a similar, but less striking, divide 11 Reading enjoyment 11 Reading outside class 12 Attitudes towards reading 12 KS3 pupils who use AR enjoy reading more, do it more often and think about reading more positively than their peers who do not use AR. To a lesser extent, the same differences can also be found in KS4 pupils. KS2 pupils show a reverse dynamic, with KS2 pupils who do not use AR enjoying reading more and thinking about it more positively compared with KS2 pupils who use AR 12 Reading enjoyment 12 Reading outside class 13 Attitudes towards reading 14 Differences between children and young people who use AR and those who do not were largely not significant when one also explores their socioeconomic background (using free school meal (FSM) uptake as a proxy) 14 Differences between children and young people who use AR and those who do not were also largely not significant when one also explores their ethnic background 15 A final note 16 Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading – Data tables 17 Young people’s enjoyment of reading 18 Being a reader 19 Having a favourite book 20 How often young people read outside of class 21 How long young people read for 22 Types of materials read outside of class 23 Book genres young people read 26 How many books young people read in a month 28 Young people’s attitudes towards reading 31 Appendix A: An introduction to the annual literacy survey 41 © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 5 Tables and figures Table 1: Reading ability and whether or not pupils use AR or not 10 Table 2: Technology in the home by key stage and whether or not pupils use AR or not 13 Table 3: Enjoyment of reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background 18 Table 4: Self-perceptions as readers in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background 19 Table 5: Having a favourite book in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background 20 Table 6: Reading frequency in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background 21 Table 7: Reading length in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background 22 Table 8: Types of materials read at least once a month in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background (Part 1) 23 Table 8: Types of materials read at least once a month in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background (Part 2) 24 Table 8: Types of materials read at least once a month in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background (Part 3) 25 Table 9: Book genres young people like reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background (Part 1) 26 Table 9: Book genres young people like reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background (Part 2) 27 Table 10: Number of books read in the last month in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background 29 Table 11.1: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – The more I read, the better I become 31 Table 11.2: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – I prefer watching TV to reading 32 Table 11.3: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – I don’t need reading in my everyday life 33 Table 11.4: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – My parents don’t care whether I spend any time reading 34 Table 11.5: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – Reading is cool 35 Table 11.6: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – I don’t read as well as other pupils in my class 36 Table 11.7: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – I only read when I have to 37 Table 11.8: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – I cannot find things to read that interest me 38 Table 11.9: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – I would be embarrassed if my friends saw me read 39 Table 11.10: Attitudes towards reading in 2012 for AR and non-AR pupils and broken down by demographic background – Reading is more for girls than boys 40 Figure 1: Enjoyment of reading by FSM uptake and whether or not pupils use AR...................15 © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 6 Executive summary Accelerated Reader (AR) is a powerful tool that motivates students of all ages and abilities to read for pleasure. A wealth of data is routinely collected about children’s reading skills to monitor and help manage their independent reading. However, no information is collected on the “softer” reading outcomes, such as reading enjoyment and attitudes towards reading. We were therefore commissioned by Renaissance Learning to help plug that gap using data from our third annual literacy survey, conducted in November / December 2012, in which 34,910 eight to 16-year-olds participated. Using a question that simply asked participants whether they use Accelerated Reader or not, we found that nearly a third (32.4%, N = 11,191) said that they use AR; 43.8% said they do not use AR, while 23.8% were not sure whether they do or not. The 23.8% of young people who weren’t sure were excluded from the analyses in this report. Comparing pupils who us AR with those who do not, we found that: • Children and young people who use AR enjoy reading more (54.6% vs. 47.0%), are more likely to have a favourite book (74.8% vs. 64.3%), are more likely to read outside class at least once a week (73.1% vs. 62.4%) and a greater variety of fiction genres, such as adventure books (58.9% vs. 52.5%) or horror/ghost stories (47.3% vs. 41.0) than do those who do not use the reading tool. More children and young people using AR also hold positive attitudes towards reading than those who do not use it. For example, they are more likely to agree that reading is cool than children and young people who do not use AR (40.3% vs 35.2%) and are more likely to agree that they more they read, the better they become at it (82.2% vs. 76.0%). We also found differences between particular groups of children and young people. For example: • Boys using AR are more likely to enjoy reading (50.3% vs. 39.5%), to see themselves as readers (64.9% vs. 52.2%), to have a favourite book (70.4% vs. 58.9%) and to read more often, at least once a week (68.9% vs. 56.6%) than boys not using AR. Boys using AR also think more positively about reading than boys not using the programme. For example, they are more likely to agree that reading is cool (37.9% vs. 30.8%). Conversely, fewer boys who use AR agree with statements such as “I only read when I have to” (32.8% vs. 38.2%) and “I prefer watching TV to reading” (60.7% vs. 65.6%) than those who do not use it. • Girls using AR also enjoy reading more (59.1% vs. 54.5%), are more likely to see themselves as readers (71.9% vs. 66.5%), are more likely to have a favourite book (79.5% vs. 71.5%) and are more likely to read outside class, at least once a week (77.8% vs. 64.0%) than girls not using AR, but the differences between them were less prominent than they were for boys. • KS3 pupils (aged 11 to 14) and KS4 pupils (aged 14 to 16) who use AR enjoy reading more (KS3:49.6% vs. 42.8%; KS4: 41.1% vs. 35.4%), are more likely to see themselves as readers (KS3: 64.5% vs. 55.4%; KS4: 58.6% vs. 48.8%) and are more likely to have a favourite story (KS3: 71.3% vs. 64.6%; KS4: 63.7% vs. 50.8%) than KS3 and KS4 pupils who do not use AR. Also, pupils who use AR in KS3 and in KS4 hold more positive attitudes towards reading than their peers who do not use AR. For example, they are more likely to agree that the more they read, the better they become (KS3: 80.5% vs. 75.5%; KS4: 75.7% vs. 67.4%). Pupils in KS4 who use AR are particularly more likely to agree that “reading is cool” compared with their peers who do not use AR (32.0% vs. 23.2%). They are also less likely to agree with the statement that they read only when they have to (28.7% vs. 37.2%). © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 7 • Interestingly, KS2 pupils show a reverse dynamic or no difference at all. For example, marginally more KS2 pupils who do not use AR enjoy reading (65.1% vs. 63.3%) and see themselves as readers (76.1% vs. 74.7%) than KS2 pupils who use AR. Similarly, an almost equal proportion say that they have a favourite book/story (81.0% vs. 82.1%). Also, more KS2 pupils who do not use AR agree that “reading is cool” compared with their peers who use AR (56.5% vs. 51.9%). Conversely, slightly more KS2 pupils who use AR agree that they would be embarrassed if their friends saw them read compared with their peers who do not use AR (21.3% vs. 17.9%). While there were differences between those who use AR and those who do not by gender as well as key stage, there were few differences between the two groups in terms of their socio- economic background (using free school meals as a proxy) or ethnic background. To sum up, findings from the survey have given us some glimpses into the wider reading patterns of children and young people who use the AR reading programme. These findings suggest that children and young people who use AR tend to enjoy reading more, read more often, read a greater variety of fiction texts and think more positively about reading than their peers who do not use AR. While the data from our survey showed differences between AR users, particularly with respect to boys, and those in KS3 and KS4, we ought to keep in mind that this is not a controlled experiment that manipulated AR usage. In order to help tease out the real impact of AR on reading enjoyment, reading behaviour outside class and attitudes towards reading a longitudinal study is needed that follows children and young people from before they start AR to see whether their attitudes and wider reading behaviour change as a result. © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 8 Introduction This report shows that children and young people who use Accelerated Reader (AR) are more likely to enjoy reading, to do it more often, to read a greater variety of fiction genres and to think more positively about reading than their peers who do not use this reading tool. This holds particularly true for boys, and pupils in KS3 (aged 11 to 14) and KS4 (14 to 16). Accelerated Reader is a powerful tool for monitoring and managing independent reading practice. AR motivates students of all ages and abilities to read for pleasure. Renaissance Learning, who provides Accelerated Reader in the UK, gathers a wealth of data about participating pupils to help teachers diagnose problems accurately and rapidly, ranging from pupils’ reading levels, reading texts and their difficulty, to more detailed information about phonological awareness, grasp of vocabulary and higher order thinking. Although a wealth of data is routinely collected about children’s reading skills, no information is collected on the “softer” reading outcomes, such as reading enjoyment and attitudes towards reading. We were therefore commissioned by Renaissance Learning to help plug that gap using data from our third annual literacy, conducted in November / December 2012. 34,910 children and young people aged eight to 16 participated in the survey, which, amongst other literacy aspects, explores whether young people enjoy reading, how often they read outside class and for how long, what type of materials they read outside class, how many books they read in a month and what they think about reading (for more information see Appendix A). To allow us to explore the differences, if any, between children and young people who use AR and those who do not in terms of their reading enjoyment and reading attitudes, a question was inserted in this survey, which simply asked children whether they use Accelerated Reader or not. Some notes on the sample 32.4% (N = 11,191) of young people who participated said that they use AR; 43.8% said they do not use AR, while 23.8% were not sure whether they do or not. The 23.8% of young people who weren’t sure were excluded from the analyses in this report. Of the children and young people who use AR, 52.1% were boys and 47.9% were girls. 18.9% of children and young people who use AR said that they receive free school meals (FSMs). Over half of children and young people are in KS3 (53.1%; aged 11 to 14), over two-fifth are in KS2 (40.5%; aged 8 to 11), and only a small proportion are in KS4 (6.4%; aged 14 to 16). The majority of children and young people who use AR are from White ethnic backgrounds (79.6%), followed by Asian (11.1%), Mixed (5.5%) and Black (3.9%). Children and young people who use AR were very similar to children and young people who do not use this reading tool, with one exception. The KS4 cohort (aged 14 to 16) was significantly bigger for those pupils who do not use AR. Although this reflects the fact that AR is mainly used by KS2 and KS3 pupils, the proportion of KS4 pupils who do not use AR was adjusted to mirror the proportion of KS4 pupils who use AR for comparative purposes (matching KS4 pupils in terms of the other background variables). The two groups were also quite well matched in terms of their reading ability (see Table 1 overleaf). An equivalent proportion of AR users and those who do not use AR read below the level expected for their age. However, a slightly larger percentage of children and young people who do not use AR read above the level expected for their age, compared with those who use the reading tool. © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 9 Table 1: Reading ability and whether or not pupils use AR Below expected level At expected level Above expected level % % % AR (N = 1,538) 12.2 74.8 13.0 Non - AR (N = 1,561) 12.7 71.0 16.4 Findings “Children and young people who use AR enjoy reading more, are more likely to have a favourite book, read more frequently and a greater variety of fiction genres, and are more likely to believe that reading is cool than children and young people who do not use AR.” Reading enjoyment Young people who use AR say that they enjoy reading more than young people who do not use AR (54.6% vs 47.0%, see Table 3, p. 18). Indeed, young people not using AR are nearly twice as likely to say that they do not enjoy reading at all compared with young people who use AR (14.8% vs. 8.9%). Not only are young people who use AR more likely to enjoy reading but they are also more likely to see themselves as readers, with 68.2% of young people who use AR saying that they are a reader compared with 59.4% of young people who do not use AR (see Table 4, p. 19). Young people who use AR are also more likely to say that they have a favourite book or story compared with young people who do not use AR (74.8% vs. 64.3%; see Table 5, p. 20). Reading outside class Young people who use AR tend to read more regularly than young people not using AR (see Table 6, p. 21). For example, young people who use AR are slightly more likely to say that they read outside class on a daily basis than young people who do not use AR (30.1% vs. 27.7%). Overall, nearly three-quarters (73.1%) of young people who use AR say that they read outside of class at least once week compared with two-thirds (62.4%) of young people who do not use AR. Conversely, over a quarter (26.7%) of young people who do not use AR say that they rarely or never read outside of class compared with 18.5% of young people who use AR. Not only do young people who use AR read more frequently outside class, they also tend to read more books in a month (see Table 10, p. 29). Three times as many young people who do not use AR say that they had not read a book at all in the past month compared with young people who use AR (17.2% vs. 6.2%). Compared with young people who use AR, young people who do not are also more likely to say that they read one book a month (21.4% vs. 14.6%). By contrast, young people using AR are more likely to read two books or more a month. Although there are very few differences in the types of materials young people might read outside class (see Table 8, pp. 23), young people using AR read a greater variety of fiction genres (see Table 9, p. 26). Compared with young people who do not use AR, slightly more young people who use AR say that they enjoy reading the following types of fiction: adventure (58.9% vs. © National Literacy Trust Accelerated Reader and Young People’s Reading 2013 10