Summer Accelerated Reader (AR) Program
Testing Date Open Until Start of School
The Summer AR Reading Program SHOULD be up and going...so please encourage your child to read this summer!
Students are encouraged to reach as many points as they can, but most importantly, learn a love for reading! At Lawrence/Nelson, the first 10 students to take SIX AR tests at their reading level this summer will receive a ticket to a Salt Dogs game! Don't forget that students can test at the elementary or the middle/high school, but please call ahead to arrange this with one of the secretaries. IXL is also open over the summer!
At Sandy Creek, there will not be testing at the school sites, but instead a bookmobile will be traveling to Glenvil on Tuesdays (4:30 to 5;30 PM); and to Deweese (2 to 2:45 PM) and Edgar (3 to 4 PM) on Wednesdays for the students to check out books, hear a story and take AR Tests with a variety of weekly and final prizes being given, including Salt Dogs tickets. Students in Clay Center and Fairfield can test at their libraries during normal business hours, as well as at the Ken & Al's in Glenvil, at Wit's End in Deweese (closed on Tuesdays), and at the City Office in Edgar (Monday - Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM). Goals are set up for students to read 30 minutes per day. At Lawrence/Nelson, the AR points will be added to their first quarter goals while Sandy Creek will celebrate points as outlined in the report cards sent home with students.
Tests will not be deleted over the summer, but instead students are encouraged to read, take tests, and avoid summer reading loss. Statistics show that reading as few as six books this summer can help reduce this loss! How can you help as a parent? Read the tips below taken from PBS Parents at http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/2010/07/helping-to-prevent-summer-read.html.
- Take books with you and your child everywhere you go; to the doctor's office, on picnics, on road trips, etc.
- Let your child choose the books she wants to read (as long as they're age-appropriate and are written at the just right level of difficulty).
- Support his/her reading experience by talking about the books and helping him/her understand and interpret what he/she reads.
- Read aloud to your child, even if he/she can read on his own. It helps build vocabulary and listening comprehension skills.
- As you're reading aloud, be sure to interact with your child by asking what he/she thinks might happen next, what a certain character is likely to do, whether the story is real or make-believe, and so forth. Above all, have fun!
- If you are more comfortable reading to your child in a language other than English, by all means do so. What your child learns in his or her native language will help create a bridge to learning English.
- Encourage your child to participate in a summer reading program, such as that offered at the Nelson Library at 10 W. 3rd St., Nelson, NE 68961 (call 402.225.7111 for more information) or any of your local libraries. You might also consider the PBS KIDS & Parents Reading Challenges which runs throughout the summer months.
- In addition to reading books, children can practice their reading skills by engaging in many different online reading experiences. Literacy-building sites such as PBS KIDS Island for children ages 3-5, and the Great Word Quest for ages 6-8 (both of which are free) are great examples.
Each of the sites at Lawrence/Nelson will have a list of usernames and passwords for our students, including our incoming kindergarten students!
Nelson Public Library, 10 West 3rd St., Nelson, NE 68961
- Phone # 402.225.7111
- Hours: Tues (3:30 - 8 PM); Wed (2 - 8 PM); Thurs (3:30 - 8 PM); and Saturday (9 AM - 12 PM)
Lawrence/Nelson Elementary
- Phone #402.756.7013
- Wednesdays from 8 AM - 4 PM (Mrs. Kathman and Mrs. Epley will have a laptop/iPad for you to test on in her office).
- Other times as arranged.
Lawrence/Nelson Middle School and High School
- Phone #402.225.3371
- Mondays - Thursdays from 8 AM - 4 PM (Mrs. Wehrman and Mrs. Epley will have a laptop in the main office for you to test on).
- Other times as arranged.
Clay Center & Fairfield Libraries
- OPEN normal Library Hours
Deweese @ Wit's End
- Bookmobile - Wednesdays 2:00-2:45pm
- AR Testing - Mon, Wed-Fri 1:00-4:00pm
Edgar @ City Office
- Bookmobile - Wednesdays 3:00-4:00pm
- AR Testing - Mon-Fri 1:00-4:00pm
- Don't forget to check out Edgar's Summer Reading Program or Edgar's Lil' Library
Glenvil @ Ken & Al's
- Bookmobile - Tuesdays 4:30-5:30pm
- AR Testing - Mon-Fri 1:00-4:00pm