By Nicole Thomas
The Starkville Oktibbeha School District has implemented a program called i-Ready Diagnostic and Instruction that focuses on reading and math. i-Ready Diagnostic and Instruction helps teachers effectively assess their students and then provide individualized instruction based on each student’s unique needs in the following skill areas:
Reading
- Phonological Awareness
- Phonics
- High-Frequency Words
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension
Math
- Number and Operations
- Algebra and Algebraic Thinking
- Measurement and Data
- Geometry
i-Ready Diagnostic and Instruction begins by giving students an adaptive assessment in reading or math. An adaptive assessment is a test that automatically adjusts the difficulty of the questions according to each student’s performance in order to determine his or her abilities in reading or math. i-Ready is a very different kind of test that presents students with questions that can be both too easy and too hard. It is designed to do this until the assessment finds exactly the level at which the student is performing.
Each time a student gets an item incorrect, he or she is then presented with a simpler question until the diagnostic finds the grade level at which the student is performing. The assessment efficiently assesses students across multiple grade levels, allowing for identification of root causes of students’ struggles or for identification of areas where a student is ready for further challenge. This information is used to provide the teacher with a “road map” to instructional remediation.
Once your child completes the test, he or she will be assigned online instruction to support his or her progress in mastering each skill. The online instruction is designed to be both challenging and engaging. i-Ready delivers interactive lessons and instruction using engaging, contemporary animation. The result is an experience that attracts and holds your child’s interest while also teaching important skills and concepts. These lessons are proven to help students grow academically.
Your i-Ready Parent Training Guide which includes more information about how you can help support your child’s learning experience at home is available for download here.
If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the District Office of Student Assessment and Intervention at 662.615.0070.