How Incorporating i-Ready Can Help Teachers Drive Student Outcomes

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” ~ Pablo Picasso

One of the biggest challenges teachers face is finding a way to connect with their students when all students aren’t on the same page in terms of learning. In a crowded classroom, it can be difficult to understand which students are struggling and what to do to help them struggle less.

At Alludo, we believe that every teacher can connect with students if they’re given the right tools to do so. One such tool is i-Ready Learning, which is something we’ve included in our Alludo content catalog. Here’s what you need to know about what i-Ready Learning is, how it can benefit teachers and students, and how partnering with Alludo can help you implement i-Ready Learning in your school district.

Table of Contents

1. What is i-Ready?
   
   1. Key Components of i-Ready Learning
      1. Instructional Resources to Help Students Learn and Grow
      2. Available for Reading and Math
      3. For All Grade Levels and Backgrounds
      4. Multiple Programs for Each Subject
   2. i-Ready Assessment
      1. A Complete Picture of Student Performance
      2. i-Ready Diagnostic Testing
      3. Equitable, Accessible Testing
      4. Implementing i-Ready in the Classroom
2. Benefits of i-Ready for Students and Teachers
3. Tips for Implementing i-Ready in the Classroom
4. i-Ready Impact on Students
5. Alludo's Take

What is i-Ready?

i-Ready Learning is an instructional system to help students learn at an appropriate grade level by providing teachers with the tools, resources, and diagnostics to meet their students where they are. 

Key Components of i-Ready Learning

Here are some of the key components of i-Ready Learning.

Instructional Resources to Help Students Learn and Grow

i-Ready provides resources for teachers and students. Some of the available resources include tools to help teachers assess student learning, instructional games, and comprehensive curricula that teachers can use in the classroom.

Available for Reading and Math

i-Ready Learning is available for two broad subject areas: reading and math. In each area, teachers will receive valuable resources and information to help them assess student learning and develop personalized courses of study when students require them.

For All Grade Levels and Backgrounds

One of the best things about i-Ready Learning is that its personalized approach can work for students at all grade levels and from all backgrounds. Students who are learning English as a Second Language can benefit from i-Ready as can students who are already fluent in English.

Multiple Programs for Each Subject

There are multiple programs for each subject. Here are some examples:

• i-Ready Classroom Mathematics is a complete curriculum for students in grades K-8.
• Learning Games incorporate fun and play into learning about math.
• PHONICS for Reading helps struggling readers in grades 3-12 become independent and confident readers.

These are just a few examples that illustrate the breadth of i-Ready Learning.

i-Ready Assessment

While there’s no denying the importance of giving teachers and students the tools and resources they need, it’s equally as important for teachers and administrators to have the ability to assess students’ progress. Here are some of the ways that i-Ready makes student assessment easy.

A Complete Picture of Student Performance

i-Ready Assessment includes an array of tests, tools, and supports to provide educators and administrators with a complete picture of student performance, so they can meet students where they are.

i-Ready Diagnostic Testing

i-Ready testing includes diagnostic testing options to measure students’ performance and identify those who need help. There are also mastery tests to measure progress and ensure that students are challenged when appropriate.

Equitable, Accessible Testing

Testing with i-Ready is designed to be equitable and accessible to all students, with the understanding that students from different backgrounds and with different capabilities should have the same opportunities to learn.

Implementing i-Ready in the Classroom

Teachers who are new to i-Ready may need some help understanding the benefits of i-Ready and tips for implementing i-Ready diagnostics and curricula in the classroom.

Benefits of i-Ready for Students and Teachers

Here are some of the most important benefits of implementing i-Ready in the classroom:

• i-Ready helps teachers set benchmarks for students at the start of the school year. When teachers understand where students are in their learning – and which students might need extra support – they set themselves up for a successful school year and optimal student results.
• Teachers can use the information from diagnostics to chart a course for their instruction. This may include identifying resources to help students who are struggling and scheduling time to provide personalized instruction to students who need it.
• Mid-year and end-of-year diagnostics give teachers the ability to measure students’ growth and assess their own performance in the classroom and adjust it as needed.
• i-Ready supports personalized instruction, giving teachers the tools and ability to teach to students’ individual strengths and needs.

These benefits help students, teachers, and school districts by giving them the ability to evaluate students’ needs, provide them with extra help when necessary, and ultimately, get to the best possible student outcomes.

Tips for Implementing i-Ready in the Classroom

Here are some tips to help school districts and teachers implement i-Ready in the classroom:

1. Make sure teachers understand how to use i-Ready. The first tip is to incorporate i-Ready training into your district’s professional development, something you can do with Alludo’s help.
2. Get students and parents to buy into the benefits of i-Ready. This tip will require teachers to meet one-on-one with students and parents to review diagnostic results and explain the benefits of i-Ready.
3. Be honest about results. The purpose of i-Ready is to provide additional and personalized help to students who need it, so it’s essential to be honest about the diagnostics and go in with a plan to help each student learn and – if necessary – catch up with their peers.
   
   
   
   
4. Set a target for i-Ready learning each week. While students will likely have math and reading lessons each day, i-Ready lessons should be limited to about one per week or no more than 45 minutes. Doing more than that may overwhelm students.
5. Check in with students. Some students may be able to handle more work than others, so it’s important to base your requirements on the needs and capabilities of each student.

Keep in mind that lesson lengths may vary depending on the student. A student who takes 15 minutes to finish one lesson can likely handle two or more per week, but make sure to check in regularly and adjust your expectations as needed.

i-Ready Impact on Students

Many school districts that have already implemented i-Ready get questions from parents who are worried about whether i-Ready is effective. Here are some of the ways that i-Ready instruction positively impacts students:

1. i-Ready provides school and district leaders with essential data that makes it easy for them to support students on an individual level.
2. The diagnostic data helps teachers, parents, and students focus on students’ potential and gives them a roadmap to help bring that potential to fruition.
3. i-Ready diagnostics and curricula complement the vital work that teachers are already doing in the classroom. i-Ready is not meant to be a replacement for best teaching practices. Instead, its purpose is to provide teachers with supplemental information to help them understand students’ progress and potential and meet students where they are to provide the support and instruction they need.
4. Students who participate in i-Ready curricula have increased their test scores because they receive the kind of personalized attention they need to understand the material being taught and help them to overcome any obstacles that might be standing in the way of learning.

Teachers who have used i-Ready in their classrooms praise its diagnostics and say that it has helped them to connect with their students and given them a framework to discuss challenges with students and parents.

Alludo’s Take

At Alludo, it’s our passion to support teachers and provide them with the professional learning they need to do their best work in the classroom. We know that teachers want to see their students thrive – which is one reason we’ve included i-Ready instruction in our content catalog.

• We’ve created a robust professional development platform that can be customized to your district’s needs. We understand that professional development equips teachers to use online instructional programs like i-Ready that can boost their effectiveness in the classroom and help their students thrive.
• We have included an array of i-Ready microlearning activities to help teachers understand the benefits of i-Ready and help them implement it in the classroom. School districts can require specific learning activities while still allowing teachers to choose topics that are of special interest to them and can help them achieve their individual professional goals.
• i-Ready is one of many topics we provide to support teachers in driving student outcomes and achievement. Our catalog contains thousands of microlearning activities that teachers love.
• We make learning fun by incorporating gamification and rewards into our platform. It’s why the school districts we’ve partnered with have increased teacher engagement and achieved their school and district goals.

i-Ready learning pathways can be used in conjunction with other professional learning that gives teachers a voice and a choice and optimizes teacher engagement by putting the fun in professional development.

Drive Student Outcomes and Achievement with i-Ready

i-Ready diagnostics and curricula can help teachers connect with their students, understand their capabilities, and provide them with the one-on-one assistance they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.

Experience personalized learning for all levels of educators with a free trial of Alludo’s professional development platform. You’ll enjoy:

• Hundreds of core topics
• Asynchronous microlearning activities
• Timely and specific feedback
• Analytics that show learning impact
• Access anytime, anywhere