I was honestly pretty curriculum neutral until we started doing intense student voice work, and poorly implemented scripted curriculum (like iReady) became the thing students reported most negatively across dozens of hours of conversation between 14 different MS/HS. Can't ignore that.
November 16, 2024 at 3:24 PM
I was honestly pretty curriculum neutral until we started doing intense student voice work, and poorly implemented scripted curriculum (like iReady) became the thing students reported most negatively across dozens of hours of conversation between 14 different MS/HS. Can't ignore that.
You want iReady? Columns like this is how you get iReady.
Maybe not the main point, but why have 50 different state tests, anyway? Whose interests are served by having so many ways of defining basic literacy and numeracy?
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/o...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/o...
Opinion | It’s Becoming Impossible to Know How Your Kid Is Doing in School
www.nytimes.com
May 26, 2026 at 10:52 PM
You want iReady? Columns like this is how you get iReady.
I do not like Class Dojo and Splash Learning constantly trying to upsell me, and all the typos in the iReady reading assignments piss me off.
September 24, 2026 at 8:35 PM
I do not like Class Dojo and Splash Learning constantly trying to upsell me, and all the typos in the iReady reading assignments piss me off.
And we've seen this with iReady as a reading & assessment program that has totally replaced disciplinary English for many kids, and they hate it. They don't have an English class where they get to engage collaboratively with difficult & powerful ideas; they have iReady. 😩
November 16, 2024 at 3:08 PM
And we've seen this with iReady as a reading & assessment program that has totally replaced disciplinary English for many kids, and they hate it. They don't have an English class where they get to engage collaboratively with difficult & powerful ideas; they have iReady. 😩
Do y’all feel it?
Teachers and parents want Chromebooks out of elementary classrooms.
Middle schoolers are speaking out against iReady.
College students are booing AI.
Human connection is making a comeback.
Teachers and parents want Chromebooks out of elementary classrooms.
Middle schoolers are speaking out against iReady.
College students are booing AI.
Human connection is making a comeback.
May 27, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Do y’all feel it?
Teachers and parents want Chromebooks out of elementary classrooms.
Middle schoolers are speaking out against iReady.
College students are booing AI.
Human connection is making a comeback.
Teachers and parents want Chromebooks out of elementary classrooms.
Middle schoolers are speaking out against iReady.
College students are booing AI.
Human connection is making a comeback.
Screen time is less important than screen content; there are plenty of good, healthy, brain-growing things kids can do on screens, but YouTube and Roblox are dogshit and likewise iReady and IXL in schools
May 24, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Screen time is less important than screen content; there are plenty of good, healthy, brain-growing things kids can do on screens, but YouTube and Roblox are dogshit and likewise iReady and IXL in schools
I am a nyc teacher and would love an ipad for my classroom to provide extra support on iready in math and reading. Iready is mandated by my district. Thanks www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
February 22, 2026 at 3:16 PM
I am a nyc teacher and would love an ipad for my classroom to provide extra support on iready in math and reading. Iready is mandated by my district. Thanks www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
There is more in the curriculum than is dreamt of in your iReady assessments.
March 31, 2026 at 12:10 AM
There is more in the curriculum than is dreamt of in your iReady assessments.
Kids get so much evidence-based iReady instruction that their experience of school is defined by the intertwined systems of control, punishment, discipline, and academic instruction.
November 16, 2024 at 3:33 PM
Kids get so much evidence-based iReady instruction that their experience of school is defined by the intertwined systems of control, punishment, discipline, and academic instruction.
And don’t get me started on the whole notion of 3-minute passing period between classes.
Their afternoon is a 70-min class followed by a 90-min class. THREE MINUTES in between.
This isn’t learning. It’s grim endurance, punctuated by worthless iReady assessments. Worse than Lord of the Rings.
Their afternoon is a 70-min class followed by a 90-min class. THREE MINUTES in between.
This isn’t learning. It’s grim endurance, punctuated by worthless iReady assessments. Worse than Lord of the Rings.
September 25, 2026 at 4:15 AM
And don’t get me started on the whole notion of 3-minute passing period between classes.
Their afternoon is a 70-min class followed by a 90-min class. THREE MINUTES in between.
This isn’t learning. It’s grim endurance, punctuated by worthless iReady assessments. Worse than Lord of the Rings.
Their afternoon is a 70-min class followed by a 90-min class. THREE MINUTES in between.
This isn’t learning. It’s grim endurance, punctuated by worthless iReady assessments. Worse than Lord of the Rings.
Frankly, we've already ceded so much to curriculum companies (iReady, Desmos, etc), kids making the transition from human to AI might not even notice the difference. 😑
December 19, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Frankly, we've already ceded so much to curriculum companies (iReady, Desmos, etc), kids making the transition from human to AI might not even notice the difference. 😑
NO I HAVE TO DO THE IREADY MATH DIAGNOSTIC GHXHSUSJSIISXJCGUDBDDICICBIEOSKZJCYCUDJH HCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHDBDUJCHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHDBDUJ anyways look nightshade :o
January 27, 2026 at 1:08 PM
NO I HAVE TO DO THE IREADY MATH DIAGNOSTIC GHXHSUSJSIISXJCGUDBDDICICBIEOSKZJCYCUDJH HCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHDBDUJCHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHIDIEHCUCIDKDIEOSKJXMCCHDBDUJ anyways look nightshade :o
Our school district fired all of the library media specialists (we haven’t had an actual librarian for years) due to budget cuts.
Part time, low wage jobs totaling $150,000 for 7 campuses.
But we apparently paid $50k for just iReady.
Part time, low wage jobs totaling $150,000 for 7 campuses.
But we apparently paid $50k for just iReady.
April 29, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Our school district fired all of the library media specialists (we haven’t had an actual librarian for years) due to budget cuts.
Part time, low wage jobs totaling $150,000 for 7 campuses.
But we apparently paid $50k for just iReady.
Part time, low wage jobs totaling $150,000 for 7 campuses.
But we apparently paid $50k for just iReady.
My students used to have to use “iReady” math. And I always got a kick out of responses like, “Your answer was 16.5. That is incorrect. The correct answer is 16.5.”
April 11, 2026 at 8:45 PM
My students used to have to use “iReady” math. And I always got a kick out of responses like, “Your answer was 16.5. That is incorrect. The correct answer is 16.5.”
iReady? more like iReady to kick your ass
December 19, 2025 at 2:08 AM
iReady? more like iReady to kick your ass
My kids don't use iReady, they use iXL which is similar and while I have found it incredibly useful for them, here's the caveat - we had to also use it at home to get the most out of it.
“I’m losing brain cells every time I do a lesson," an eighth grader says.
The revolt against i-Ready: Private equity-backed software faces parent, teacher and student fury
A growing number of families and educators say they’re fed up with i-Ready’s personalized math and reading lessons, which feature repetitive cartoons and slow voice-overs.
www.nbcnews.com
May 12, 2026 at 7:55 PM
My kids don't use iReady, they use iXL which is similar and while I have found it incredibly useful for them, here's the caveat - we had to also use it at home to get the most out of it.
The district puts A LOT of focus on iReady, more than just "pestering" admin. 90 minutes a week, plus all the assessments online, it really does take away from teaching.
December 6, 2025 at 3:54 AM
The district puts A LOT of focus on iReady, more than just "pestering" admin. 90 minutes a week, plus all the assessments online, it really does take away from teaching.
I'm about to read this article but just chiming in to say I freaking *loathe* iready
September 21, 2026 at 12:27 PM
I'm about to read this article but just chiming in to say I freaking *loathe* iready
Yes! Also this is one reason why the current testing/edtech push is so terrible. iReady doesn’t help inspire kids. Teachers can
May 2, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Yes! Also this is one reason why the current testing/edtech push is so terrible. iReady doesn’t help inspire kids. Teachers can
Our 3rd, 5th, and 6th graders showed up and showed out on their winter iReady math diagnostic. The growth is outstanding! So proud of my teachers, support of parents, and effort of the kids. Our kids are brilliant! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
December 5, 2024 at 1:01 AM
Our 3rd, 5th, and 6th graders showed up and showed out on their winter iReady math diagnostic. The growth is outstanding! So proud of my teachers, support of parents, and effort of the kids. Our kids are brilliant! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
As a retired teacher, I can attest to that. All the computer programs that supposedly test kids at their level are crap. iReady, I’m looking at you.
June 10, 2025 at 9:25 PM
As a retired teacher, I can attest to that. All the computer programs that supposedly test kids at their level are crap. iReady, I’m looking at you.
NBC catching up to student focus groups we ran two years ago...
May 13, 2026 at 10:56 AM
NBC catching up to student focus groups we ran two years ago...
ACAB includes the weekly email updates from my kid's school on his iReady minutes or whatever
December 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
ACAB includes the weekly email updates from my kid's school on his iReady minutes or whatever