Testing is Different From When We Were Kids – What if You Could Have Had Your Tests Given to You by Cartoons?

In this type of lesson, we ask children to remember what they saw or read, and then make predictions about what could happen if the story continues - This activity builds critical thinking skills!

Today’s classroom visits focused on understanding how some of our teachers feel about a new assessment program we are piloting.  I stopped by a few classrooms at the Taft Early Learning Center and the Whitin Intermediate School to interface with our instructors, who volunteered to be part of a pilot of the new program.  While in the classrooms, I had the chance to work with some of our students – and even do a brief metacognition activity with one of our Kindergarten classes. 

Taft Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Cormier gave me her take on the new iReady Program - she is in favor of bringing this interface into our classrooms

Since its inception, Curriculum Associates' iReady program has rapidly become an indispensable asset in elementary schools nationwide. The software's primary goal is to provide our teachers, administrators, and students with an adaptive, data-driven solution to personalized learning. And by most accounts, including those of Ms. Cormier and Ms. Yordonopoulos at the Taft, Ms. Marshall, and Ms. St. Germain at the Whitin, it's been enormously successful in achieving this goal.

This is an overview of the diagnostics that our teachers can get on their students and classes

At its core, iReady is an integrated learning program that offers individualized instruction based on each student's unique needs. This is possible through adaptive diagnostic assessments and data which allows our teachers to provide personalized learning paths tailored to individual performance levels. iReady also assesses students using interfaces that are age appropriate – such as cartoons and characters the kids love!

The program encompasses Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA), ensuring that these foundational aspects of a child's education are thoroughly addressed. As part of its package, iReady provides teachers with actionable insights into their student’s learning processes, allowing for targeted, effective instruction.

Our teachers make us of the WIN block in our schools.  These are times in which instruction is specially tailored to the individual needs of our students – and this cannot be done without periodic assessments. Children learn at their own pace, one of the primary considerations making iReady an essential tool. The software identifies each student's strengths and areas of improvement, then designs a customized learning path that teachers can use accordingly. This ensures that all students, regardless of their learning speed or style, are engaged and challenged at a level appropriate for them.

Most importantly, one of the most significant advantages of iReady is its ability to monitor and track student progress in real-time. Regular assessments and updates clearly show teachers whether a student is progressing adequately, allowing timely interventions when necessary.  Teachers can also analyze their results by class, and Principals can look at them by grade. 

With our commitment to providing equitable learning opportunities, iReady caters to diverse learning needs, making Uxbridge’s education more inclusive. The program includes features designed for English Language Learners (ELLs) and students with special needs, ensuring all students have access to quality education.