Comment on Our Experience with i-Ready by Mary Turchi

I was an iReady PD consultant for several years. I just ended my tenure in March, 2026. My job was to learn the platform and train teachers to use it. iReady’s best practice recommendations are as follows: Core instruction with a teacher is always the first priority. The second priority is small group or one on one instruction with a teacher. iReady is never to replace solid Tier 1 or 2 instruction. The My Path lessons are meant to supplement the school’s core curriculum. As such, WEEKLY recommended time is 30-49 minutes plus a 70% passage rate in lessons. Clearly, the district expectations stated in this article (30 minutes each day) are far beyond what iReady recommends. While I cannot speak to the working of software, I can say that from my experience, schools that use iReady with fidelity have shown positive academic gains and student acceptance. Note: I am a former teacher with 35 years of classroom experience. I am not a techy-type person, so I would naturally be jaded to this type of program, too. However, if used to supplement, not replace, my work with students, iReady’s Personalized Instruction can be a valuable piece of my instructional toolbox.