For students:
Smart Start Reader walks students through the curriculum based linear process of before, during, and after reading activities. Using unabridged chapter books and a computer, students complete interactive activities to encourage active reading with the Smart Start Reader guide. As students read actively, reading for meaning strategies are introduced and practiced while comprehension is supported and tested. The activities include graphic organizers, multiple choice, and open response questions.

Student responses are collected and organized to create personalized comprehension journals. The reading journals provide additional follow up to SSR’s instruction by including a summary of each activity's instruction along with the completed activity. Students learn how to reference their reading journals when writing summaries and responding to after reading activities.

For teachers:
Smart Start Reader tracks student progress and creates automated graphic reports with a detailed breakdown for the class or individual student. With the SSR reports, a teacher can see progress across the following reading skill categories:
    - details
    - main idea
    - inference / drawing conclusions
    - predicting outcomes
    - compare and contrast
    - fact and opinion
    - cause and effect
    - context clues
    - sequencing events
    - theme
    - summarizing

With detailed and easy to read reports, teachers can use the SSR reports as a communication tool for parent teacher conferences and for future lesson planning.

In addition to automated assessments, SSR supports differentiated instruction. With students working at their independent reading levels, the classroom teacher is free to work one-on-one or with a small group of students needing instruction or additional help. It creates a non-intimidating environment for students to practice comprehension skills at their own pace. For students who struggle to complete the program in school, they can log on at home and continue where they left off. SSR is a tool for students to use in school as classwork, at home as homework, or during the summer as a summer reading program.