0 ItemsWhat is CARS & STARS?
CARS & STARS is a comprehensive reading program consisting of ten levels (P–H) that allows you to identify and teach twelve reading and comprehension strategies and improve literacy results.
The program is divided into two parts: CARS (the assessment portion) and STARS (the instruction portion). Each CARS and STARS level (P–H) consists of both a Student Book and a Teacher Guide.
CARS & STARS were designed to be used together. The Placement Guide places students in the correct level. The Pre-tests in CARS help teachers to diagnose problem areas with their students. STARS assists teachers to teach those strategies found lacking. Benchmarking tests and Post Tests in CARS are used to assess how goals are progressing and then to determine if goals have been achieved.
What is CARS?
The research-based Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies (CARS) series helps you quickly identify which of the twelve standards-based reading comprehension strategies your students might be struggling to understand. Informed by this data, you can then provide students with targeted instruction depending on each student's individual needs by using STARS. Using the results of the CARS pre-test, you target instruction on the essential reading comprehension strategies with the highly scaffolded, five-part lessons in STARS.
CARS is available in print form, in a series that includes both Student Books and Teacher Guides for each level. Now, for the first time, CARS is also available online in a digitised version accessible on every major platform.
CARS is the diagnostic part of the series, where students' abilities with the reading strategies are established and documented. STARS, the second part of the program, involves instruction in each of the strategies, to improve and enhance comprehension.
CARS & STARS Online will look amazing on any device, whether a phone, tablet or desktop computer. All that is needed is a browser. Compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS or Android, CARS & STARS Online comes with you.
CARS & STARS timeline
Illustrate each reading level program structure to ensure students have a solid understanding of each strategy before moving on to the next level. This timeline also helps the student to review their reading comprehension journey toward success.
A rewarding student experience
With engaging and interactive assessments, children are presented with a story to read through, followed by questions based on the 12 central comprehension strategies, and STARS instructional lessons. A fully digital experience from reading to review, children are encouraged with star points based on their performance.
Supports all vision levels
Unlike with printed text, the stories in CARS Online can be quickly adjusted for easier readability with the handy increase/decrease font size function allowing users total control over their type display.
Progress mapping
Students can view ongoing, instantly updated progress charts while tracking their journey throughout the comprehension program. Previous assessments are listed underneath current progress, including reading level, completion date and assessment status.
Self-Assessment
Self-Assessment sections allow students to reflect on their work throughout Pre-test, Post Test and Benchmark questions to encourage goal setting and reflection.
Dual display mode
CARS & STARS Online has been designed with accessibility in mind, and not to simply cater for new devices. Students can choose between the interactive, high-performance mode, or the simpler, low-performance mode, depending on their preferred method of use. High-performance mode starts with a story and then uses an eye-catching side-to-side scrolling effect for the questions. Low-performance mode, specifically designed for use on older devices or for a simpler visual experience, offers a traditional top-to-bottom reading and response experience.
My Account
The My Account section allows students to access their account and update basic personal information, such as their name, birthdate and profile picture, and classroom details, as well as change how assessment and lessons display on their devices.
Analyse activity, set assessments and lessons
These innovative, interactive close-reading lessons are found within the CARS & STARS reading comprehension domain of STARS Instruction. Just like other CARS & STARS assessments, they are automatically assigned, tracked and available through the online reports.
What is STARS?
The research-based Strategies to Achieve Reading Success (STARS) series provides explicit direct instruction in the 12 core reading strategies tested in CARS. Each lesson is broken into five parts providing a gradual release of responsibility and increase in student confidence.
STARS supports all student learning including ELL/ESL/EAL-D learners with prior knoweldge activation, explicit instruction, graphic organisers and theme-based instruction. Multiple definitions and examples of each strategy within each lesson continually reinforce understanding. The easy-to-use, informative Teacher Guide makes every teacher a reading expert, offering step-by-step instructions on administering assessments with classes and individual students, as well as a detailed breakdown of every page of the Student Books.
Create a thoroughly immersive close-reading experience as part of a new era in STARS Instruction.
CARS & STARS timeline
Illustrate each reading level program structure to ensure students have a solid understanding of each strategy before moving on to the next level. This timeline also helps the student to review their reading comprehension journey toward success.
Personalised instruction
Upon completion of Pretest diagnostics based on the student's areas of greatest need, personalised online lessons will be automatically recommended for students to complete in order to remediate areas that require reinforcement.
Strategy-based graphic organisers
Graphic organisers help learners to comprehend and retain textually important information. These strategy-based graphic organisers depict how students can apply each strategy.
Extended writing responses
Open-ended questions prompt students to explore what they already know about the 12 reading strategies from their daily lives.
Question hints
Provide additional information for the student to complete the questions. These hints may give information about the questions themselves or direct students to find key information within the passage.
Answer analysis
Model for students how they can find the correct answers to comprehension questions, with explanations as to why those answers are correct and why the other answers are not.
Strategy essential points
Derived from the Strategy Bookmarks, these serve as a helpful reminder about the strategy that students have learned in the lesson. The strategy essential points are also used to support the application of each strategy to year-level text.
More practice
Help students to focus on the targeted reading strategies from the three previous lessons with Review Lessons, before the Final Review provides practice in all 12 reading strategies. Students are provided with the correct answers upon completion of each passage.
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