Literacy Tools

Renaissance Adds Nonfiction Texts, Skills Practice with Accelerated Reader 360

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 11/06/14

Renaissance Learning has unveiled Accelerated Reader 360 (AR 360), an updated version of Accelerated Reader that adds new resources and activities for students.

New resources available through AR 360 include digital informational texts and activities for instructional skills practice.

"Through AR 360's integrated reading program, students continue their independent reading practice, while teachers now have tools to help students engage with more nonfiction texts, read more complex texts with instructional support and build skills around evidence-based reading responses," according to a news release.

The leveled nonfiction articles are searchable by topic and skill to assist with standards alignment and close reading. Each one "includes built-in instructional skills practice" such as highlighting and tag activities and writing prompts.
The platform also includes a reading dashboard designed to provide actionable insights into student performance, streamlining the multiple reports used by the previous version.

"We've seen a lot of changes happening in the classroom over the past couple of years, with the rapid adoption of technology and more rigorous standards challenging our teachers to push student achievement even higher — but one thing that has not changed is that teachers are still at the core of maximizing student success," said Jack Lynch, CEO of Renaissance Learning, in a prepared statement. "Now, with AR 360 we're providing educators with the tools to confidently address key shifts, and students will move comfortably into more complex texts and learn to strategically use technology to learn and achieve."

More information is available at renaissance.com.