Elementary teacher outlines iReady math rollout, says goal is deep conceptual learning

Angela Wisniewski, an elementary math department chair and parent, told the Penn Yan Central School District board the district adopted iReady math to support deeper conceptual understanding after noticing gaps and plateauing test scores. "We want students to see that math is worthwhile," Wisniewski said, summarizing a core goal that she said aligns with New York State standards of mathematical practice.

Wisniewski described iReady's classroom routine as a three-part framework—"try, discuss, connect"—with approximately 20 minutes of direct instruction and a large portion of class time devoted to student discourse and strategy comparison. She showed third-grade examples and student work to illustrate multiple acceptable solution paths and said the program emphasizes conceptual flexibility over speed. Wisniewski acknowledged teacher feedback that there is "less practice" in the new curriculum and that some teachers feel uncertain; she called the short-term drop in fluency an "implementation dip" and proposed additional teacher and student training next year and soliciting middle-school feedback to confirm readiness as students advance.

In board questions, Wisniewski confirmed iReady is currently being used in the district for kindergarten through sixth grade and that the program offers digital diagnostic tools that can provide supplementary information; she said she would follow up with documentation on long-term outcomes and how iReady performance carries into higher-level courses. She also offered contact information for board members or staff who want more detail or to review sample lessons.