Advertise on podcast: The Extraordinary Educators Podcast

What if a “wrong” answer tells you more than a correct one? In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Derek Briggs, professor of educational assessment at the University of Colorado Boulder, to unpack why assessment should go beyond testing, and instead focus on progress over mastery. Derek shows how context and thinking processes matter just as much as outcomes, and why mastery is not always simply laid out.  To support a deeper understanding of progress, we explore a roadmap for measuring growth throughout your day-to-day. Start with a clear baseline, define where students are headed, and chart the route with smart, formative checkpoints. Derek shares an approach to “triage with intention”: use periodic measures to inform flexible grouping, then rotate focused attention across groups so support stays equitable. Derek also shares the power of strategic questioning, including entry and exit tickets. Over time, these small insights into a student's depth of knowledge add up to a clear picture that guides instruction. Derek goes on to discuss the power of community. Inside the classroom, heterogeneous groups help students model strategies, language, and persistence for one another. Across the school, teachers who bring open-ended student work to the table can discuss expectations, co-create rubrics, and see patterns that single classrooms miss. And when families understand the learning goals and what quality work looks like, home practice becomes purposeful and encouraging. The result is a culture where curiosity replaces judgment, students take ownership of growth, and assessment becomes a daily driver of learning. Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/ Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

In today's episode, we sit down with STEM Coordinator, and veteran educator, Karen Gauthier to unpack how a problem-based curriculum turns learners into mathematicians who reason, justify, and connect strategies with confidence. Karen traces her 37-year journey from classroom teacher to district leader and explains why shifting to a problem-based math curriculum changed everything. We examine the Try-Discuss Connect routine, showing how rich tasks with multiple entry points invite diverse strategies and deeper understanding. You’ll hear what can look like in real classrooms: students choosing tools that make sense to them, partners explaining their thinking before whole-group share-outs, and teachers curating student work to highlight mathematical structure rather than a single “right way.” Karen also shares routines that guarantee equitable discourse, such as structured partnerships with clear roles and timing, so 100% of students answer 100% of the questions.  If you want to build student agency, improve transfer, and foster a classroom culture where ideas matter more than steps, this conversation offers concrete moves you can use today. Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/ Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

Today we sit down with third-grade teacher Natalie Banks to unpack a simple, powerful framework: courage to try small-group instruction, clarity to guide learning with posted intentions and success criteria, and connection to build a community where every student’s voice matters. Natalie explains how she restructured her time, used data to form flexible groups, and leaned on ready-made materials to keep planning realistic. She paints a a picture of rotations that work: a teacher table using manipulatives to deepen understanding, an independent station with targeted practice, and partner activities to reinforce strategies. Along the way, we dig into the routines that keep everything smooth, ranging from explicit transitions, to shared norms for math talk, and quick checks that make progress visible. Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/ Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

A hard truth sparked this conversation: too many students were reaching middle school unable to read independently at grade level. Erin Embon has spent 34 years across classrooms and leadership roles, and she walks us through how that pattern pushed her to rebuild reading instruction where it matters most. We unpack the data that challenged assumptions, the research that clarified next steps, and the practical moves that helped a district move to structured literacy with measurable momentum. Erin begins by talking about what she noticed across the middle school setting, and how that influenced her work in the elementary setting. She talks about her "aha" moment and how she took that knowledge to support both teachers and students. From there, Erin explains how she supported teachers during this transition -- all while recognizing the difference between those in lower and upper elementary classrooms. Erin then wraps up by sharing some great advice for those that are starting to tackle the world of literacy in their schools and classrooms.  Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/ Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

In today's episode, Rachel Porter, a digital curriculum integration specialist from Indiana, joins us to unpack how through-year assessment can turn scattered checkpoints into a steady engine for student growth. Rachel shares what changed when her district moved beyond one-and-done testing toward domain-level diagnostics that map exactly where each learner stands, and where to go next. We talk about the deeper, domain-by-domain guidance i-Ready provides. That clarity allows teachers to group students purposefully, plan targeted lessons, and track progress more efficiently. Rachel also walks us through her district’s post-COVID rebound—how timely data, focused interventions, and consistent habits helped them return to pre-pandemic performance and keep climbing. Rachel goes on to talk about how she incorporates celebrations for students and teachers across the board. She outlines three simple weekly habits tied to growth: about 45 minutes of personalized instruction, at least two passed lessons, and a pass rate above 70 percent. She then explains how monthly recognition builds momentum for every learner, not just the usual high achievers. Add in midyear check-ins and end-of-year growth goal celebrations, and you get a culture where effort turns into measurable progress!

What if a single test score isn’t telling you what matters most about your readers? We sit down with Dr. Kristen Braatz, AVP of Curriculum and Instruction at Curriculum Associates, to unpack how educators can capture a fuller, more actionable picture of literacy growth. Kristen traces the realities behind stagnant literacy scores and the rising demands of reading in a digital world. We dig into why high-quality curriculum must go beyond comprehension checks to challenge students to analyze, argue, and create. You’ll hear how meaningful tasks, like structured discussions, frequent writing, and opportunities to teach ideas back, make thinking visible and reveal true progress. Along with that, we dive into the power of aligning assessment with instruction -- teachers gain time, students get targeted support, and literacy growth shows up both on the page and in real-life tasks. If you’re ready to move beyond data for data’s sake and toward evidence that drives meaningful reading and writing, this conversation will give you clear steps to start now.  Read Kristen's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/measuring-literacy Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

Middle schoolers are a different set of students, and it is important to consider how best to engage them in their learning. National Director, Naneka Brathwaite, joins this episode to unpack five key strategies to engage middle school students: make progress visible, fuel autonomy with real choice, keep content relevant to age, build discourse for critical thinking, and pace efficiently so every minute counts. Naneka explains how simple data talks, student-friendly progress trackers, and clear goals help learners name where they are and choose what to try next. From there, we dig into incorporating student choice by providing parallel paths to the same standard to support students deciding how they learn best.  Relevance and discourse go hand in hand. Hear practical ways to pair developmentally appropriate texts with age-appropriate topics, reducing shame while raising curiosity. Naneka shares routines that move teachers from a "sage on the stage" to a facilitator of thinking: structured turn and talk, error analysis, and respectful disagreement that push ideas forward. In math and literacy alike, students learn to explain, question, and refine. Finally, we talk about pacing. Older learners can revisit foundations quickly, but not at the expense of understanding. Learn how to plan concrete-to-abstract progressions, use quick checks to steer instruction, and avoid whole-class reteaching by leveraging small groups and just-in-time supports. The payoff is fewer disruptions, more buy-in, and a room that feels both calm and energized.

Today we sit down with Dr. Anita Archer to unpack how clear, compassionate behavior systems transform a room from reactive to ready. The big shift isn’t about control; it’s about removing guesswork so students know what to do and teachers can teach. To begin, Dr. Archer dives into why behavior management is important. From there, she breaks down how to mapping key activities into simple, teachable expectations. You’ll hear routines in action, the power of specific praise, and the art of pre-correction so success is more likely before the first direction is given.  If you're feeling overwhelmed tackling behavior management in your own classroom, Dr. Archer talks through a reset plan: pick a date, relaunch core routines, use “Looks Like / Sounds Like” charts, and keep expectations visible for a few days while habits take root. We wrap up with some memorable "Archerisms:" avoid the void for they will fill it; predictability predicts ability; if you expect it, pre-correct it; and teach with passion, manage with compassion.  When expectations are explicit, feedback is specific, and routines are predictable, students feel safe, respected, and ready to learn. If you’re aiming for fewer disruptions, stronger focus, and great instruction, listen to this episode today. IES Practice Guides: ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguides Read Dr. Anita Archer's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/effective-behavioral-management-in-the-classroom Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

Feelings walk into class before backpacks do. We sit down with first grade teacher Shannon Allison to explore how simple, repeatable SEL moves turn big emotions into teachable moments and stronger learning. Instead of treating social emotional learning as an add-on, Shannon shows how to weave it into routines that students can use right away and that teachers can sustain on busy days. Beyond what strategies Shannon incorporates into her classroom, she dives into the "why" behind them, helping students better understand their own emotions in the process. Along the way, we also unpack the teacher side of social-emotional learning -- embracing nonlinear careers, resisting social media comparisons, and learning to be proud of progress even when the path looks different from the dream. Shannon’s recognition as an Extraordinary Educator opened doors to a supportive community that celebrates specific, effective practice, not perfection, and that affirmation changed how she sees her work. If you want practical strategies you can try tomorrow and a reminder that your journey still counts when it curves, this conversation delivers. We offer clear takeaways for classroom culture, student self-regulation, and teacher well-being, plus insights into how recognition and community fuel growth.  Apply to join the Extraordinary Educators: www.surveymonkey.com/r/EE2026 Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

In today's episode, Stephanie Lawkins, Vice President of Educator Success at Curriculum Associates, joins to share how rethinking professional learning (PL) to create a more personalized approach creates a much stronger outcome and experience for educators. Instead of long, generic sessions, we explore how role-aware design, data, and smart recommendations can make every minute useful and energizing. Stephanie talks through practical moves, ranging from using i‑Ready insights to shape agendas, building sessions that start with a shared focus and then branch into choice-based breakouts, and closing with concrete plans teachers can implement tomorrow. We discuss pathways that respect unique contexts while keeping a common thread—clear outcomes tied to student impact. If you’re ready to trade one-size-fits-all professional learning for a strategic, teacher-centered model, this conversation offers a blueprint you can start using right away.  Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

Literacy is a lifeline for academic success and lifelong opportunities. For older students still struggling with reading, targeted intervention powerful and transformative. In this conversation with Lisa Mucci, Curriculum Associates' Impact Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction, we explore practical, evidence-based strategies that can make an immediate difference for these learners. In this episode, Lisa shares her passion for supporting older striving readers.  We dive into specific techniques like chunking and looping for multisyllabic words, which helps students decode 60-80% of English vocabulary by recognizing prefixes, suffixes, and roots. This approach builds not just reading skills but transferable strategies they can apply in science, social studies, and beyond. What makes this episode particularly valuable is the balance between instructional precision and human connection. Lisa reminds us that older struggling readers need teachers who believe in their potential while providing structured, explicit instruction. She offers immediately applicable strategies for building background knowledge, implementing fluency routines with purpose, and pre-teaching vocabulary to strengthen comprehension. Throughout our discussion, we emphasize that while compassion is essential, it must be paired with high expectations and collaborative effort between teacher and student. Whether you're working directly with striving readers or supporting colleagues who do, you'll walk away with concrete techniques to implement tomorrow. Listen now to discover how literacy intervention truly can change lives, and how you can be part of that transformation for your students. Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

Amanda Carpena, Senior Manager of Enablement Operations at Curriculum Associates, joins today's episode to discuss how schools like KIPP New Jersey and Mat-Su Alaska achieved remarkable reading growth through three strategic shifts anyone can implement!  Rather than focusing on deficits, these successful schools reframed their approach to Tier 1 instruction -- creating curriculum committees that examine student data with fresh eyes. This shift created the foundation for sustainable improvement across all classrooms and student populations. Next comes the critical decision to invest in high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). Amanda demystifies this educational buzzword, explaining that truly effective literacy resources are grounded in the science of reading and designed for consistent implementation. She offers practical advice for forming stakeholder committees and evaluating potential materials to ensure they'll deliver results for your unique student population. The final shift involves prioritizing professional learning throughout implementation. Amanda shares Mat-Su Alaska's "long runway to success" approach, where teachers received materials and training months before classroom implementation, followed by structured support during the critical first six weeks. This methodical process gave educators the confidence and skills to implement with fidelity, resulting in dramatic reading improvements. These success stories prove that remarkable literacy growth doesn't require complete system overhauls or enormous resourcs... but rather strategic adjustments to existing approaches!  Read our blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

The power of voice technology in education lies not just in its convenience, but in its ability to understand every child, regardless of accent, dialect, or background. In this enlightening conversation with Amelia Kelly, VP of Data Science at Curriculum Associates and head of AI Labs, we explore the fascinating intersection of linguistics, artificial intelligence, and childhood education. Amelia explains why standard voice AI systems fail many students - they're built on limited datasets of adult voices, leaving diverse children's voices misunderstood or ignored. Beyond accuracy, Amelia emphasizes the critical importance of data privacy and security in educational voice technology. Amelia goes on to explain how voice AI respects teachers' time and expertise. Rather than adding to educators' workloads, effective voice AI should seamlessly integrate into existing tools, providing valuable insights that allow for more personalized instruction.  Ready to explore how voice AI can transform your classroom experience? Listen to Amelia's episode today!

In today's episode, Kheshana Woods, National Director at Curriculum Associates, shares her profound insights on creating a true "home away from home" for students in literacy classrooms. Drawing from her experience as a classroom teacher, Kheshana paints a vivid picture of what belonging looks like. "When children know you love them, when you take the time to create an environment that's centered around their needs, they'll walk through fire for you," she explains. Kheshana goes on to dive into the practical application of the VABB framework, Validating, Affirming, Building, and Bridging, and how this can be used in your own classrooms. She also emphasizes that this work isn't just "feel-good fluff" but is backed by research showing that students who experience belonging demonstrate stronger academic growth even years after leaving school.  Whether you're struggling with classroom management, looking to enhance student engagement, or simply wanting to create a more joyful learning environment, Kheshana's wisdom offers actionable strategies that honor both the heart and science of teaching.  Read the blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog Follow us on Twitter: @CurriculumAssoc Follow us on Instagram: @MyiReady Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email [email protected] to connect with us!

Keeping students, especially those in middle school, engaged can be difficult. Taylor White Brown, a teacher from Mississippi, joins today's episode to share simple yet powerful strategies that transform classroom dynamics without creating extra work for teachers while still focusing on student engagement.  Taylor's approach begins with a refreshingly practical perspective: "Use what the curriculum is giving you. Don't make your job harder." Rather than reinventing lessons, she amplifies existing materials through activities like games, buzzers for responses, and friendly competitions that still put learning at the forefront.  At the heart of Taylor's philosophy is relationship-building. "Kids are not going to learn from someone they do not like," she explains, describing how she maximizes every interaction—from hallway conversations to lunch periods—to create genuine connections. These small moments build the trust necessary for students to invest in their learning. When students disengage, Taylor quietly acknowledges their feelings while gently reminding them of their mutual commitment: "When Ms. Brown has a bad day, I show up for you. So Ms. Brown really needs you to show up for me today." Whether you're looking for more student engagement strategies or simply looking to refresh your teaching approaches, Taylor's practical wisdom offers immediately applicable techniques.