I personally would not subject accelerate for reading, so bear that bias in mind when you're reading my responses!
First grade was not a great year for DD, particularly the second half of it. We anticipated that second would be way worse - they're still learning to read (rather than reading to learn). She crammed like crazy in math (her weak point) in order to qualify for a grade skip to 3rd. She's now in 4th, and doing fine.
In first, the primary problem we had was limits on library books. First graders were forbidden chapter books, although for part of the year, DD was allowed to get 3rd grade level books that weren't chapter books. And they were forbidden more than one book a week, although for part of the year, DD was allowed two. Mostly, she took a book from home.
In fourth, the primary problem we're having is that the in-class reading assignments aren't challenging. I've explained to DD that they're now "reading to learn," rather than "learning to read," and that the important part of the assignment is analysis and response, not "I know all of the words in that sentence." That has helped some. My DD is a big fan of reading, but not a big fan of open-ended writing assignments.
