How i-Ready Pro’s Essential Lessons Transformed Learning in My Classroom

As teachers, we all want our students to engage with their learning in a way that feels empowering to them. Last year, however, I faced a challenge with some of my students that many of you in middle school may relate to—students who needed additional phonics or fundamental math skills were placed into early elementary lessons on i-Ready. While the content was exactly what they needed, the “monsters” they saw in their i-Ready lessons made it obvious to their peers that they were behind.

The Self-Consciousness Challenge

As an educator who has used i-Ready for years and has always appreciated the fun and engaging characters like Plory, Snargg, and Yoop, I’ve seen firsthand how important early foundational skills practice is for our youngest learners. However, for older students, these lessons felt less aligned with their developmental stage. Their classmates sometimes made innocent comments about their lessons being different, and even if they were not being mean, my students experienced heightened self-consciousness. Over time, these students became reluctant about completing their weekly minutes.

A Game-Changing Solution

Fast forward to this year. My older striving learners had the opportunity to engage in i-Ready Pro’s Essential Lessons in foundational skills during early access. The difference has been incredible! My special education and Tier 3 students are far more willing to engage with their lessons, even in the presence of their on-grade level peers. Essential Lessons are more age appropriate, not only in the look and feel of the platform but in the content and pacing as well. This has made a world of difference in my students’ willingness to participate and get their minutes.

Noticeable Growth and Engagement

In the fall, we primarily used Essential Lessons in foundational skills since Essential Lessons in core numeracy had not yet launched. However, when it became available, my students embraced it.

I’ve seen noticeable growth, not just in their skills but in their engagement. One of my most reluctant students has completed 28 lessons, with 67 out of 68 successful skills by strand! Now, as I begin early planning stages for next year, I’m eager to implement all facets of i-Ready Pro, which will include a new instructional approach for my near- and on-grade students, an updated progress and motivation system, and enhanced reporting for me.

If you are a middle school teacher, I encourage you to explore all that i-Ready Pro has to offer. This year was focused entirely on lessons for students who need the most support, but next year will be entirely new for all students. I have been talking it up in class and it has completely shifted the way my students have approached their independent learning time. By telling students i-Ready has “jazzed” up their platform, my students have been making the gains they need to as they close learning gaps.

Discover the difference i-Ready Pro can make in your classroom!

More middle school resources:
i-Ready Pro Webinar
Building an Ideal Middle School Classroom for Learning
Math Motivation in Middle School

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