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Renaissance Accelerated Reader

Renaissance Accelerated Reader

Overview

What is Renaissance Accelerated Reader?

Renaissance Accelerated Reader® is designed to save educators time by empowering them with Learnalytics® to make differentiating independent and close reading practice effortless – all while maintaining the flexibility necessary to fit within existing classroom routines. Students are engaged in…

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Recent Reviews

Great program

9 out of 10
April 09, 2024
In the school district that I work with we used Renaissance Accelerated Reader by empowering our student for the love of reading. It is …
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TrustRadius Insights

Renaissance Accelerated Reader has a wide range of use cases in educational settings. Teachers and students across various grade levels …
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AR Works!

10 out of 10
November 16, 2023
My school uses Renaissance Accelerated Reader 360 to help students learn to and love to read. It is perfect for providing a touch of …
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Points Chasers

7 out of 10
December 10, 2021
Incentivized
I facilitate the program. Students have started chasing points instead of reading for pleasure. They skim the book to get the answers.
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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What is Renaissance Accelerated Reader?

Renaissance Accelerated Reader® is designed to save educators time by empowering them with Learnalytics® to make differentiating independent and close reading practice effortless – all while maintaining the flexibility necessary to fit within existing classroom routines. Students are engaged in…

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Details

What is Renaissance Accelerated Reader?

Renaissance Accelerated Reader® is designed to save educators time by empowering them with Learnalytics® to make differentiating independent and close reading practice effortless – all while maintaining the flexibility necessary to fit within existing classroom routines. Students are engaged in reading self-selected authentic books and articles.

Short comprehension quizzes and built-in close reading practice activities, combined with automatic and educator feedback, keep students accountable for their learning. Dashboards and reporting provide users with the insights necessary to identify quickly which students need more support, which skills each student is ready to learn, and which resources will cultivate proven growth.

According to the vendor, key benefits include:

  • Students are nearly twice as likely to be college and career ready with they practice with Renaissance Accelerated Reader.
  • A strong research base of 178 scientific studies and review backs Renaissance Accelerated Reader, which ensures that you have scientifically sound practice and reliable data for instructional decisions.
  • The Council of Administrators of Special Education endorses Renaissance Accelerated Reader for improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

Renaissance Accelerated Reader Competitors

Renaissance Accelerated Reader Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationMobile Web

Frequently Asked Questions

ReadnQuiz, Whooo's Reading, and LightSail Education are common alternatives for Renaissance Accelerated Reader.

Reviewers rate Usability highest, with a score of 9.1.

The most common users of Renaissance Accelerated Reader are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(83)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Renaissance Accelerated Reader has a wide range of use cases in educational settings. Teachers and students across various grade levels use the software to promote independent reading, improve reading skills, and track progress. With its comprehensive tracking features, Renaissance Accelerated Reader allows teachers to monitor student reading practice and growth, providing standardized data that can be shared with other support personnel. This data-driven approach helps identify specific areas of challenge for individual students and guides discussions about their progress.

In addition to fostering a love for reading, Renaissance Accelerated Reader motivates students to read independently by allowing them to earn points and incentives. The software offers a vast collection of books that students love, with new additions being made regularly. It is often used as a tool to ensure that students are reading appropriate and challenging materials while checking comprehension skills. By setting goals and holding students accountable for their comprehension, teachers can effectively differentiate instruction based on individual needs. The program's user-friendly interface empowers students to take ownership of their learning and continually grow and improve as readers. Overall, Renaissance Accelerated Reader has become an invaluable resource for motivating and engaging students while using data to guide their growth as readers.

Users have made several common recommendations for Renaissance Accelerated Reader based on their experiences.

One recommendation is to utilize the program for data-driven instruction. Many users have found that Renaissance Accelerated Reader provides valuable statistics and data for teachers. This allows them to align their lessons with student needs and track progress effectively. By using the program, teachers can make informed decisions about which skills to focus on and tailor instruction accordingly.

Another recommendation is to take advantage of time-saving features. Users have noted that Renaissance Accelerated Reader frees up time for instruction. The program's automated assessment and grading system eliminates the need for manual grading, enabling teachers to devote more time to teaching. This efficiency is particularly beneficial in a busy classroom environment where teachers often face constraints on time.

A third recommendation is to enhance student engagement and motivation. Several users have mentioned that Renaissance Accelerated Reader increases student excitement about reading. The program offers rewards and incentives such as badges and points that motivate students to read more books. This gamification aspect has proven effective in encouraging reluctant readers and promoting a positive reading culture in the classroom.

In addition to these recommendations, users also suggest joining the Renaissance Royals program for tips and support. This program provides educators with resources, professional development opportunities, and a community of fellow educators to exchange ideas and best practices.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 62)
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April 09, 2024

Great program

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
The scenario where I found less appropriate is when one time I was reading a book to my students and i read a word that in Spanish was a bad word around this region and my students were amazed of that word that i have to stop reading and explained all the meaning a certain word could have.
Ruben Vela | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
In our district, we been using Reading Renaissance for more than 15 years and I believe that it works well. We see our students improve in reading comprehension and making them accountable in their learning. When parents are involved, student's become more active and eager to read especially if they take their books home and read to their parents.
November 16, 2023

AR Works!

Rita Platt | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I would recommend Renaissance Accelerated Reader 360 for all elementary and middle schools.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I love using Accelerated Reader in my classroom. I use it to further my instruction. We read books as a class and test on them individually to see if students are comprehending what I am reading to them as well as what they are reading independently or with a peer. I use it to create a classroom competition each year and it works wonderfully.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
My students work towards point goals so they can earn prizes. This works will with my young students and helps encourage daily reading/test taking in my class. I do wish that there were more predictable texts readily available for my kindergarten students. Overall, I am happy with this product.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Ren Place AR works for readers, not so much for early readers and pre-readers. This can be a challenge when you're teaching a grade level where reading is an expectation but some students come in without the skills. While everyone else is doing AR, finding ways to engage the struggling readers adds a burden onto teachers.
Melissa Thomasson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I have found Renaissance Accelerated Reader to be well-suited for elementary readers. I don't have experience using it with high school students; however, I know that for our elementary readers, there are no shortages of tests available. Our students can read trade books, articles within the program, or even stories from our textbooks and take tests on them.
Stacia Guarisco | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
It is well suited for accountability in independent reading. It is not something that truly inspires reading. That is up to the administrator of the program. It is important for students to read. I like that there are tons of books available for students reading through this program. I recommend it.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I appreciate AR because it helps the student to see if they are comprehending a particular ZPD level. It is detailed in the report to be able to conference with students and show them what they may adjust to be more successful. It also shows the student if they are staying in their "ZPD comfort zone" and not challenging themselves enough.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Accelerated Reader is a great program for most schools through 8th grade. Though elementary students are more excited about reading and the program, middle school students also can find enjoyment in it as well. I find that I have to motivate my 8th graders more, but we have had success as a team in getting 100% percent of our students to achieve their AR goals in nine weeks.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I have quite a large classroom library that is all labeled with Renaissance Accelerated Reader levels. The students have access to a variety of levels to pick from. I do not think students would be as interested in Renaissance Accelerated Reader as they are, without a lot of books to read immediately. If students have to wait to exchange books in the school library or local library, too much time will pass by and they will become disinterested.
March 11, 2022

AR makes reading fun!

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Accelerated reader is well suited for kids that can read independently. It is less suitable for kids that cannot read independently. It works well with students that are motivated to do well and respond to incentives. It is less effective with kids that have poor student engagement. Many kids read more because of the accelerated reading.
JESSICA MARTINDALE | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
If the school site is behind the teachers and is helping them through the beginning process, or if the admin request that English teachers use it, AR could be beneficial to students. However, it is not something that is strong on our campus.
Mandy Ellis | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
AR is best used in classrooms that have a rich classroom library and access to books to spark a love of reading. AR should be used in tandem to create a classroom of readers. AR is not just a points earning system. It allows students and teachers to work collaboratively to set and reach meaningful reading goals.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
AR is well suited for many ELA scenarios. It is less appropriate when reading shorter nonfiction passages (science, for example). This would require group discussion, and immediate assessment after reading. This type of assessment is left to the classroom teachers since the reading material is so short (compared to the length of a chapter book or a novel). I wonder if AR could help with these types of passages.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Renaissance Accelerated Reader can be used across the board in education in every subject area. As a science teacher, I assign books that relate to the content we are studying so I can not only make sure they are comprehending what they are reading, but also learning science vocabulary with each book assigned.
April 16, 2021

Accelerated Reader

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
[Renaissance] Accelerated Reader is a wonderful program which can help monitor and track student progress as they read across the school year. Teachers can see what books their students are reading, what level of books they are choosing, and how well students are comprehending the material. It is great for students who are approaching, at, or above grade level. It is more difficult for students who are reading at 3 or more levels below grade level.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
During virtual classes, it was a relief to have Accelerated Reader. It was a program students were used to. It made it easier on parents and teachers since everything else was new and overwhelming. Having a program students feel comfortable with even if they have to do it from home was a big plus for us.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Accelerated Reader is a program that I would highly suggest for any district. It can be infused into any reading classroom effortlessly and help teachers track data that they would otherwise have to do manually. Accelerated Reader also ensures that students are engaged in reading by incentivizing them by awarding students points for the books that they read. The more difficult the book, the more points they receive for reading and proving their understanding of that book.
Stephania Sherman, Ed. D | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
This tool is an essential part of our teacher's delivery of instruction and the formative assessment process. I would love to see the platform updated for student aesthetic appeal. Teachers love the updates from the latest platform upgrade for reports on student knowledge and the ease of planning instruction. The student interface could use some updates!
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Renaissance Accelerated Reader is great for encouraging students to increase the amount of time they spend reading each day. Accelerated Reader can be used by different grade levels and different reading levels. This program works best when the teacher guides students on their reading journey and works regularly to monitor their progress. The program makes it easy to reward students and classes for their hard work.
Accelerated Reader would not be appropriate as completely independent learning. The Accelerated Reader platform is for taking a quiz on the book and keeping track of goals/points. The program does not provide feedback, rewards, or encouragement to students.
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