GCISD will be implementing new reading and mathematics diagnostic assessments given to K-8 students in the 2024-2025 school year. A new tool called i-Ready will replace several other assessment programs previously used in the District.
“Instructional time with teachers and students is our most valuable learning resource,” stated Chief Academic Officer Dr. Shiela Shiver. “Our aim was to give teachers more time for classroom instruction, while also providing a tool that aligns classroom instruction, intervention and acceleration.”
How will i-Ready help?
i-Ready is an online adaptive assessment tool grounded in Texas K-12 standards, that will help teachers identify students’ needs in reading and mathematics. The results are not sent to the state, but rather sent to the teacher's individual dashboard to review from their computer. The teacher can then see where their students’ needs are and adjust instruction accordingly during small group time or even with the entire class if there is a concept identified that requires additional instruction with the entire class. The data can be seen by a class as a whole or by individual students, and even further by concepts. For example, a teacher can dive much deeper into how each student understood a foundational skill, such as phonics, vocabulary, literature comprehension, and see where a student needs assistance and acceleration.
The teacher toolbox provides teachers with tools for instruction in English and Spanish that teachers will use so they don’t have to create lesson plans from scratch or search through multiple resources, thus saving time. Ideas for data chats are also provided to spur conversations with students about areas of success as well as areas of where they can grow.
Students will have access to “MyPath,” which provides online personalized lessons that are fun and interactive to keep students engaged and are based on their individual skill levels and needs. They, too, will have individual dashboards to see their teacher-assigned lessons that they will work on to help their growth as well as track their progress.
i-Ready assessments will be given at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to provide teachers with even more data to shape instruction.
Want to learn more about i-Ready? Watch this video and continue to follow the district’s communications channels where more information about i-Ready will be shared.