Raz-Kids

Materials and Resources
Bookroom
Classroom Management Tool
Audio Recorder

Materials and Resources
What materials are available on Raz-Kids?
What are Read Only books?
How do your materials differ from Reading A-Z or Reading-Tutors?
Does Raz-Kids align with research and/or state standards?
Is there a white paper available for your materials?
Does Raz-Kids align with the No Child Left Behind Act?
How do your materials correlate with other leveling systems?
Are your materials available in any language other than English?
How often are new materials made available?
What if I just want to sample the materials before purchasing?

What materials are available on Raz-Kids?
Raz-Kids offers animated, audio books, quizzes, worksheets, and read only books for students. This program is ideal for emerging and challenged readers. The high-interest topics will motivate and engage reluctant readers.

What are Read Only books?
Raz-Kids offers online Read Only books for students to use during free reading or for the teacher to project for whole class instruction. Read Only books are not intended for assignments, and consequently are not coupled with quizzes and worksheets.

How do your materials differ from Reading A-Z or Reading-Tutors?
Raz-Kids offers leveled readers that students can read or listen to online from anywhere. Listening models fluency for students and provides independent reading practice for emerging readers, second language learners, and struggling readers. Quizzes are also available online for each assigned book and scores are posted immediately. Students can practice their reading skills by recording their own reading of a text.

The Raz-Kids Classroom Management Tool allows a teacher to build a class roster, assign books, and view students' progress through printable reports. Raz-Kids also features an online Bookroom where students can browse through titles and choose a book for free reading.

Does Raz-Kids align with research and/or state standards?
Raz-Kids talking books incorporate best practices from current educational research. For more information, refer to the Learning A-Z White Paper.

Is there a white paper available for your materials?
Yes. Please download the Learning A-Z White Paper.

Does Raz-Kids align with the No Child Left Behind Act?
Yes. Raz-Kids is an important part of the Reading First section of No Child Left Behind. For more information, refer to the Learning A-Z White Paper.

How do your materials correlate with other leveling systems?
For your convenience, we have developed a chart that correlates Raz-Kids levels with other popular leveled reading programs, including Reading Recovery, Fountas & Pinnell, and DRA.

Are your materials available in any language other than English?
At this time Raz-Kids materials are only available in English. However, we do everything we can to meet the needs of our customers. If you would like to request words in an alternate language, please send your request to our customer service department at support@learninga-z.com.

How often are new materials made available?
New books will be posted on a regularly scheduled basis. We encourage you to visit often and check for updates.

What if I just want to sample the materials before purchasing?
Raz-Kids offers three different options for previewing the materials before purchasing. Check out the Free Samples , read the Book Descriptions, or Take a Tour of the site.

Bookroom
What is the Bookroom?
How do I log students into the Bookroom?
I'm logged into the Bookroom with my teacher username and password; how do I get back to the Classroom Management System?
Can I log into the Bookroom with my teacher username and password from multiple computers?
Can students access the Bookroom from home?
Can students have assignments and still access the Bookroom?
How do I enable or disable access to the Bookroom for my students?
I want my students to visit the Bookroom, but the option is not available. How can the students access it?
Can students access books at all levels within the Bookroom even if I've assigned only certain levels?
Are books read in the Bookroom included in a student's progress report?
Can students access quizzes within the Bookroom?
Do students have access to the worksheets within the Bookroom?

What is the Bookroom?
The Bookroom is a library of Raz-Kids books that allows students access to all books and quizzes.

How do I log students into the Bookroom?
Students can access the Bookroom either through your teacher login or their unique student login if you have set up a classroom roster and enabled access to the bookroom.

Student login

1. Select the Log in tab.
2. Enter the teacher's username to access the appropriate class student chart.
1. The computer will remember the teacher username for subsequent access from each computer.
3. Select the student's color and shape to log into Raz-Kids.
   Select the Bookroom tab.
   Follow the steps above for each separate computer/student.
   

Teacher login

1. Select the Log in tab.
2. Use the teacher username and password to log into Raz-Kids.
3. Select the Bookroom tab.

I'm logged into the Bookroom with my teacher username and password; how do I get back to the Classroom Management Tool?
For your security, once you have used your teacher username and password to access the Bookroom, the Classroom Management Tool is disabled. You will need to return to the Raz-Kids home page and log in again with your teacher username and password to access the Classroom Management Tool.

Can I log into the Bookroom with my teacher username and password from multiple computers?
Yes, as long as you are accessing the Bookroom for students in your registered classroom and the username and password is kept confidential.

Can students access the Bookroom from home?
If you have set up a classroom roster and enabled access to the bookroom, students will be able to access Raz-Kids from any computer. It will be necessary to provide each student with the teacher username - just the username not the password - and his or her unique login color and shape, as well as the student password set by the teacher. Please remember to keep all login information confidential.

Can students have assignments and still access the Bookroom?
Sure. If you have set up a classroom roster and enabled access to the bookroom. Students with access to both, will be directed first to their assignments when logging in and the Bookroom tab will be available.

How do I enable or disable access to the Bookroom for my students?
If you have set up a classroom roster with assignments, you can disable access to the Bookroom for any or all students.

1. Log in to Raz-Kids with your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Check or uncheck the Enable Bookroom checkbox for each student.
4. Click Update.

I want my students to visit the Bookroom, but the option is not available. How can students access it?
Check your Roster page to make sure the Bookroom is enabled for each student.

Can students access books at all levels within the Bookroom even if I've assigned only certain levels?
Yes. The Bookroom is a library of all Raz-Kids books and quizzes. If a student's access privileges to the Bookroom are enabled, she or he will be able to read or listen to any Raz-Kids book.

Are books read in the Bookroom included in a student's progress report?
Yes. If a student is logged in with his/her student login information, all Raz-Kids books read will be counted on that student's progress report.

Can students access quizzes within the Bookroom?
Yes. The Bookroom is a library of all Raz-Kids books and quizzes. If a student's access privileges to the Bookroom are enabled, he/she will be able to read or listen to any Raz-Kids book.

Do students have access to the worksheets within the Bookroom?
No. Although the worksheet icon appears in the Bookroom, only a teacher can download and print the worksheets.

Classroom Management Tool
Building and Editing a Roster
Setting Up Reading Groups
Assigning Books, Quizzes, and Worksheets
Viewing Books, Quizzes, and Worksheets
Viewing Reports

Building and Editing a Roster
How do I set up a roster?
How do I initially add students to my roster?
How do I delete students from my roster?
How many students can I add to my roster?
How are student usernames and passwords generated and assigned?
Can I change the username and password for a student?
How do I make changes to student information in my class roster?
Can my students access Raz-Kids from home?
Can I have multiple rosters?

How do I set up a roster?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Click Add New Students.
4. Enter First Name, Last Name, Level, Group (optional), and indicate whether or not to enable the Bookroom for each student.
1. The level will determine the starting point for a self-paced assignment and automatically adjust to reflect the student's progress.
2. Select the edit link next to Group to create or edit groups. Once a new group has been created, it will be available in the Group pull-down menu.
3. As the student's name is entered, the first available Student Username shape and color is populated. To assign a different Student Username select from any available shape and color.
5. Select an optional Student Password.
1. For the lowest possible security, select No password, which is the default. This option allows a student access to his or her assignments by simply selecting the appropriate Student Username shape and color.
2. For the highest level of security, select and enter a Text password.
3. For medium security, select either One or Two Red Icons.
1. The maximum number of Password icons is two. To deselect an icon, simply click it a second time.
6. Click Add New.

How do I initially add students to my roster?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Click Add New Students.
4. Enter First Name, Last Name, Level, Group (optional), and indicate whether or not to enable the Bookroom for each student.
1. The level will determine the starting point for a self-paced assignment and automatically adjust to reflect the student's progress.
2. Select the edit link next to Group to create or edit groups. Once a new group has been created, it will be available in the Group pull-down menu.
3. As the student's name is entered, the first available Student Username shape and color is populated. To assign a different Student Username select from any available shape and color.
5. Select an optional Student Password.
1. For the lowest possible security, select No password, which is the default. This option allows a student access to his or her assignments by simply selecting the appropriate Student Username shape and color.
2. For the highest level of security, select and enter a Text password.
3. For medium security, select either One or Two Red Icons.
1. The maximum number of Password icons is two. To deselect an icon, simply click it a second time.
6. Click Add New.

How do I delete students from my roster?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Click the "X" Delete icon to the left of each student you wish to remove from the roster.

How many students can I add to my roster?
You may have up to 36 students per classroom on your roster at any given time.

How are student usernames and passwords generated and assigned?
The Student Username color and shape, as well as the Password option are designated by the teacher at the time the student is added to the roster.

Can I change the username and password for a student?
Yes. The teacher can edit the student login information at any time by selecting the student's Edit icon on the Roster page.

How do I make changes to student information in my class roster?
To make changes to only the student information for multiple students:

1. Login with the teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Make the necessary changes to the First Name, Last Name, reading Level, Group, Assignment, and/or Bookroom status for each student.
1. Students without a specific assignment will default to a self-paced assignment. 
2. Each student can only have one assignment. Changing the assignment for a student who already has an assignment will deactivate the original assignment and assign the new assignment.
3. If the assignment pull-down menu is not available, the assignment will need to be changed from the assignment tab.
4. Click Update to save the changes for all students. 

1. Login with the teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Select the Edit icon to the left of the student.
4. Make the necessary changes to the First Name, Last Name, reading Level, Group, and/or Bookroom status for the student.
5. Click the new Student Username color and shape to designate to the student.
6. Scoll down to choose the new Student Password.
1. For the lowest possible security, select No password, which is the default. This option allows a student access to his or her assignments by simply selecting the appropriate Student Username shape and color.
2. For the highest level of security, select and enter a Text password.
3. For medium security, select either One or Two Red Icons.
1. The maximum number of Password icons is two. To deselect an icon, simply click it a second time.
7. Click Update to save the student changes.

Can my students access Raz-Kids from home?
Yes. As long as the teacher has set up a roster and provided each student with the teacher username (just the username not the password) a student will be able to use his or her login information to access Raz-Kids from any computer. Usernames and passwords should be kept strictly confidential.

Can I have multiple rosters?
Each teacher/classroom may have only one roster. However you can set up groups within the classroom roster. You may not exceed 36 students for all groups combined. If you serve more than 36 students, you must take out additional licenses for each group of up to 36.

Setting Up Reading Groups
What are Reading Groups?
How do I create Reading Groups?
How do I edit Reading Groups?
How do I delete Reading Groups?
How do I assign a student to a Reading Group I have created?
How do I move a student from one Reading Group to another?
How do I delete a student from a Reading Group?
How many Reading Groups can I create?
Is there a limit to the number of students I can place in a single group?
What do the reading levels mean?
How do Raz-Kids levels compare with other leveling systems?

What are Reading Groups?
Reading Groups are small groups of students reading at about the same level. Reading Groups allow you to place multiple students who are at the same reading level(s) into a single group so that they may receive the same group assignment.

How do I create Reading Groups?

1. Log in with your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Select the edit link below the Group field.
4. Name the Reading Group and choose the Reading Level from the drop-down menu.
5. Click Add.

How do I edit Reading Groups?

1. Log in with your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Select the edit link below the Group field.
4. Check the box(es) next to the group(s) you wish to edit.
5. Change the Reading Level by selecting the new level from the drop-down menu.
6. Click Save Changes.

How do I delete Reading Groups?

1. Log in with your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Select the edit link below the Group field.
4. Check the box(es) next to the group(s) you wish to delete.
5. Click Delete Selected.

How do I assign a student to a Reading Group I have created?

1. Log in with your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Choose the reading Group from the list of groups in the pull-down menu under Group.
4. Click Update.

How do I move a student from one Reading Group to another?

1. Log in with your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Select the new Reading Group from the list of groups in the pull-down menu under Reading Group.
4. ClickUpdate.

How do I delete a student from a Reading Group?

1. Log in with your teacher Username and Password.
2. Select the Roster tab.
3. Select the blank option from the list of groups in the pull-down menu under Reading Group.
4. Click Update.

How many Reading Groups can I create?
You may create as many Reading Groups as you like. However, each student may be in only one Reading Group at a time. And the number of students in all groups combined per classroom can total no more than 36.

Is there a limit to the number of students I can place in a single group?
You may put up to 36 students or the entire class in one Reading Group.

What do the reading levels mean?
Raz-Kids' leveling criteria are based on the scientific measurement of accepted leveling strategies. For your convenience, we have developed a chart that correlates Raz-Kids levels with other popular leveled reading programs including Reading Recovery, Fountas & Pinnell, and DRA.

How do Raz-Kids levels compare with other leveling systems?
Reading Recovery, Fountas & Pinnell, and DRA levels are not official levels assigned to Raz-Kids books by those leveling systems. Rather, those levels are approximate correlations based on a comparison of attributes in Raz-Kids leveled books with equivalent books that have been assigned official levels by Fountas & Pinnell, Reading Recovery, and DRA. For your convenience, we have developed a chart that correlates Raz-Kids levels with other popular leveled reading programs including Reading Recovery, Fountas & Pinnell, and DRA.

Assigning Books, Quizzes, and Worksheets
What is a Self-Paced Assignment?
What is a Custom Assignment?
How do I create a new custom assignment?
How do I edit an existing custom assignment?
How do I delete an existing custom assignment?
How do I switch from a Self-Paced Assignment to a Custom Assignment?
How do I switch from a Custom Assignment to a Self-Paced Assignment?
How do I designate the same custom assignment to the entire class?
How do I designate the same custom assignment to an entire level?
What will the student be able to access if I do not make a custom assignment?
I saved an assignment, but now I can't find it in the drop-down list; what should I do?
How do I print worksheets for my students?

What is a Self-Paced Assignment?
Students without a specific assignment will default to a self-paced assignment. Self-Paced assignments allow a student access to all the books in the level selected on the roster page. The assignment will automatically allow the student to progress to the next level when the student has read every book and passed each quiz.

What is a Custom Assignment?
Teacher-made assignment of specific resources which can include resources at multiple levels. With a custom assignment the teacher is responsible for adjusting the assignment to progress the student to the next level(s).

How do I create a new custom assignment?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Assignments tab.
3. Enter a Name in the New Assignment field.
4. Select a level(s) and check the box next to the icons for the tasks you wish to assign. 
1. To assign all the books in a level check the Add this entire level icons at the top of the list. 
2. Switch between levels as desired. 
5. Select the Save Assignment button.
6. Select the Add Students link which will appear in the student column at the right, only after resources have been added.
1. Check the box next to the student(s) you wish to assign the selected resources to.
2. Select the Add entire group check box to add all students listed within that group.
3. Each student can only have one assignment. Selecting a Busy Student will deactivate the original assignment and assign the new.

How do I edit an existing custom assignment?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Assignments tab.
3. Select the Edit link next to the Resources header for the assignment you wish to edit.
4. Delete existing resources by selecting the "X" next to the resource.
5. Add new resources by first choosing a level from the level bar. Switch between levels as appropriate.
1. Add all the books in a level by checking the box(es) next to the Add this entire level icons. Adding the entire level will automatically include future interactive and Read-Only books.
2. Add specific books by checking the box(es) next to the icons for specific resources.
6. Click the Save Assignment button.

How do I delete an existing custom assignment?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Assignments tab.
3. Select the Delete link next to the assignment name header for the assignment you wish to delete.
4. Students associated with a deleted assignment will become idle students.

How do I designate the same custom assignment to the entire class?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Assignments tab.
3. Select the Add Students or Edit link under the Student column.
4. Check the box next to each student or Group.
5. Click the Save Assignment button.

How do I designate the same custom assignment to an entire level?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Assignments tab.
3. Select the Add Students or Edit link under the Student column.
4. Check the box next to a Group.
5. Click the Save Assignment button.

What will the student be able to access if I do not make a custom assignment?
When a student does not have a custom assignment, he/she will default to a  self-paced assignment based on the Level designated on the Roster page.

I saved a custom assignment, but now I can't find it in the drop-down list; what should I do?
Try creating the custom assignment again, and be sure to click on the Save button when you are finished.

If you continue to experience difficulties, please contact our customer service department toll-free at (866) 889-3729.

How do I print worksheets for my students?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the View Books tab or the Assignment tab.
3. Click on the appropriate level or locate the appropriate assignment.
4. Click on the Worksheet icon for the book of your choice to download the worksheet. A PDF of the worksheet will be saved to your computer.
5. Locate the file and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
6. Select Print from the file menu.

Viewing Books, Quizzes, and Worksheets
How do I view books and other materials that I will be assigning?

How do I view books and other materials that I will be assigning?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the View Books tab.
3. Click on the appropriate level letter in the colored bar at the top of the page.
4. Scroll over the book thumbnail for a book summary.
5. Click on the Read, Listen, Quiz, or Worksheets icons to review the materials.

Viewing Reports
What types of reports are available?
How do I view a report?
Is the student information secure?
Can I print a report?

What types of reports are available?
We offer both Assignment Completion (default) and Student History reports under the Reports tab.

Assignment Completion Report
An Assignment Completion report details each student's current assignment progress. The report includes the resource level, each possible mode (Read, Listen, Quiz), highest quiz score, and resource title.

A dash in a mode column indicates the resource was part of the assignment. The number in a mode column represents the number of times the resource was accessed.

Only the highest quiz score is recorded, regardless of the number of attempts. A passing score of 80% or more will be indicated by black text.

The first progress bar provides an at-a-glance look at the group's progress towards completion. Each student also has an individual progress bar.

Student History Report
A Student History report provides details regarding every Raz-Kids resource a student has accessed. The report includes the date accessed, resource level, mode (Read, Listen, Quiz), quiz score, resource title, and whether it was accessed as part of an assignment or through the Bookroom.

With the report, a passing score of 80% or more will be indicated by black text.

The points earned represents the total number of unique books read and the quiz points earned. Please note: Only the highest score for a quiz is recorded.

How do I view a report?

1. Log in using your teacher username and password.
2. Select the Reports tab.
3. The default Assignment Completion Report will be displayed and sorted by date within each assignment.
1. Scroll down the page to find the appropriate assignment.
2. Select any column head and/or its corresponding ascension arrows to re-sort the report.
4. Select All Student History Report to switch reports.
1. Select any column head and/or its corresponding ascension arrows to re-sort the report.

Is the student information secure?
Yes. Our secure server and your password protect the information. Access to information about student's work is only available via the teacher's login. Only the teacher who created a roster can view reports. For more information, please view our Privacy Policy.

Can I print a report?
After you have followed the steps to view a report, click the Print link next to the report name. 

Audio Recorder
How can I install the software to use the audio recorder?
What does the security message mean?
How do I use the audio recorder?

How can I install the software to use the audio recorder?
Instructions for Windows users:

• Make sure your microphone works and is properly connected.
• Download the latest version of Java at http://www.java.com.

Instructions for Mac users:

• The audio recorder requires Mac OS 10.3 or higher.
• Make sure your microphone works and is properly connected.
• Visit http://www.java.com to determine whether you have the latest version of Java.
• If you need to update your version of Java, download the installer and follow the instructions.
• Then install QuickTime and QuickTime for Java at http://www.apple.com/quicktime.

What does the security message mean?
The audio recorder will save the files it creates on your computer's hard drive. In order for it to do so, you must first grant it permission. If you do not want to grant this permission, you will be unable to use the recorder. However, this will not affect anything else on the Raz-Kids website.

How do I use the audio recorder?
Using the buttons

• The Record button allows you to record your voice for up to 10 minutes. After that time limit, it will stop recording.
• The Play button is initially disabled until after you finish your first recording for a book. It will allow you to playback your recording.
• The Stop button stops recording or playback, depending on which is currently running:
  • If you click Stop during recording, the recording is finished. If you press Record again, you will copy over the previous recording.
  • If you click Stop during playback, the recording will Rewind to the beginning.
• The Pause button pauses recording or playback, depending on which is currently running:
  • If you click Pause during recording, the recording will no longer save the user's voice. If you press Record again, the track will resume recording without copying over previously-recorded audio.
  • If you click Pause during playback, the recording will not rewind. If you press Play again, the track will resume where it left off.

About the audio files created

• The audio recorder creates files in .wav format on Windows and .aiff format on Macintosh.
• These files are stored in a directory named "Raz-Kids." This directory is located within the user's home directory on the hard disk of the computer. The location will vary depending upon the type of computer, version of operating system, and setup.
• A user may only have one recording per Raz-Kids audio book on a given computer. However, if different users have separate "logins" on a computer, each user may have his/her own separate copies of the audio files.