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Adding Students and Creating Student Accounts

How to Add Students to Your Class and Create Accounts

ReadTheory offers a few different ways to add students to your class, depending on whether they're new to the platform or already have an account.

Choosing the right option from the start helps prevent duplicate accounts, which can cause students to lose access to their assignments and progress.

📑 Table of Contents

Choosing the Right Option for Your Class

Start by deciding how you want your students to sign in.

How do you want students to sign in?

Best option

Unique username and password (students don't have email addresses, or you'd rather not link one to them)

Option 2: Create New Accounts

Single Sign-On, with Google, Microsoft, Clever, or ClassLink

Option 3: Invite with a Class Code

-OR-

Bulk Create New Accounts (for single sign on) under Option 2: Create New Accounts

 

 

How to Get Started

  1. Select the class you'd like to add students to.
  2. Select Add Students at the top of the page.add new students-1
  3. Choose one of three options:

    1. Select existing accounts

    2. Create new accounts

    3. Invite with a class code. 

    choose from one of the 3 options

Option 1: Select Existing Accounts

⭐Best for: students already enrolled in one of your other classes, or students who are part of a premium school plan.

select existing

  1. Search for and select the students you'd like to add to this class. search existing students
  2. Once you've selected everyone you want to add, select Add Students. add student existing

Option 2: Create New Accounts

⭐ Best for: students who will sign in with a unique username and password. This option also supports SSO accounts through the bulk CSV upload below.

create new accounts

Add Names (Unique Username and Password):

⭐ Best for: students who will sign in with a unique username and password.

add names

  1. Type the student's first name and last name (or initial). type in first and last name
  2. Select Add after typing in each student's name. Repeat until you have added all of your students. 
     click add-1
  3. Once all students are added, select Create Accounts at the bottom of the page. create 2 accounts

Add Google Emails (SSO with Google email):

⭐ Best for: students who will sign in with their Google email address ("Sign in with Google")

add google emails

  1. Type the student's full Google email address. type in google email
  2. Select Add for each student after their Google email address. Repeat until you have added all of your students.
    click add email
  3. Once all students are added, select Create Accounts at the bottom of the page. click create accounts email

🔒Student credentials are not emailed to you, but they're viewable on the platform.

From the class page, select View Login Cards to see them; this is how students will sign in. You can print login cards for students and regenerate them if needed. See Student Login Cards for more information.

Import a File: Bulk Create New Accounts 

Best for: adding 30+ students to a class. This option allows you to bulk create accounts for students to sign in with a unique username and password or Single Sign-On with Google or Microsoft emails.

import a file

Select Import a File, then select Download Example CSV. download example csv

Fill out the downloaded template (be sure to erase the present sample materials).

For unique username and password accounts:

  1. On the downloaded CSV document, enter the student's first and last name. enter first last name csv
  2. Leave the other fields blank. The platform will generate a username and password for each student.
  3. Import the completed CSV where it says Drag & drop your roster file here  (Make sure it is saved as a CSV or XLSX file).
    drag and drop file here
  4. Review the list, and if everything looks correct, select Create Accounts. create accounts csv

For Single Sign-On accounts (Google, Microsoft):

  1. On the downloaded CSV document, enter the student's first name and last name. enter first last name csv
  2. Enter the student's Google/Microsoft email address as the username. enter email address
  3. Enter the same email address in the email field. enter username as same
  4. Make sure the username and email match exactly; that's what makes the account SSO-ready.
  5. You can leave the password field blank. The platform will generate a password for students.
  6. Import the completed CSV where it says Drag & drop your roster file here  (Make sure it is saved as a CSV or XLSX file).
    drag and drop file here
  7. Review the list, and if everything looks correct, select Create Accounts. create accounts csv

🔒Once student accounts are created, you can view login credentials on the platform.

From the class page, select View Login Cards to see them; this is how students will sign in. You can print login cards for students and regenerate them if needed. See Student Login Cards for more information.

Option 3: Invite with a Class Code

Best for: teachers who want students to sign in with Single Sign-On and have students who can follow instructions to create their own account. 

invite with class code

  1. Select Invite with a Class Code and share the provided link or QR code with your students.
    link or qr code
  2. Students follow the link and select Sign up with Google, Microsoft, Clever, or ClassLink (whichever provider your school uses).
  3. Students follow the prompts to create their account.

⚠️ Important: Students must use the specific link you shared to be linked to your class. If a student creates an account on their own, not through that link, it will not be connected to your class. They can still join afterward using the class code method in How to Connect to a Teacher through Class Code.

Troubleshooting

Seeing a "username taken" or "username already exists" error?

This typically means the student already has a ReadTheory account. Check out our troubleshooting guide for help: Username Taken or Already Exists Error

Student Created Own Account NOT with Class Code Link?

If a student creates an account on their own, not through that link, it will not be connected to your class. They can still join afterward using the class code method in How to Connect to a Teacher through Class Code.

Related Articles & Resources

Student Login Cards

How to Connect to a Teacher through Class Code

Creating Classrooms

Single Sign On Options

Troubleshooting Duplicate Student Account

Have questions? We're here to help. Reach out anytime at support@readtheory.org.