Welcome to the Curriculum Associates Podcast, where we delve into the latest trends, insights, and innovations in education. Join us as we explore how educators are transforming classrooms and engaging students to achieve their fullest potential. Each episode features expert guests who share practical strategies and inspiring stories from the front lines of education. Whether you&#39;re a teacher, administrator, or education enthusiast, our podcast provides valuable resources to enhance your practice and drive student success. Tune in and be part of the conversation on shaping the future of learning.

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In this episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast, host Dr. Ricardo Garcia sits down with Dr. Samantha Echebelem, Duncanville ISD’s Director of Intervention Services, for an in-depth chat on student growth strategies. They share insights into leveraging i-Ready’s diagnostic assessments, academic discourse tools, and regular progress checks to support students. Tune in to hear about their &#34;going green&#34; approach to get students on grade level, the power of academic discourse in classrooms, and practical tips for continuous improvement throughout the school year. Perfect for educators looking to transform student engagement and learning outcomes! To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit: <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Host: Dr. Ricardo GarciaGuest: Dr. Samantha Echebelem, Director of Intervention Services, Duncanville ISD Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 00:58) Introduction(00:59 - 01:37) Dr. Echebelem’s Background(01:38 - 02:23) Successes w/ Interventions(02:24 - 03:52) Data &amp; Progress Monitoring(03:53 - 07:41) Implementation Plan(07:42 - 08:44) What’s Unique(08:45 - 09:52) Student Discourse(09:53 - 10:58) Words of Advice(10:59 - 13:12) Parent Engagement(13:13 - 13:38) Duncanville ISD in 3 Years(13:39 - 14:10) Closing

Ep. 8 Boosting Student Success with i-Ready: Insights from Dr. Samantha Echebelem

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In this episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast, host Dr. Ricardo Garcia sits down with Dr. Elda Garcia, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Curriculum Associates, for an in-depth chat on student growth strategies. Dr. Garcia and guest Dr. Elda share insights into leveraging i-Ready’s diagnostic assessments, academic discourse tools, and regular progress checks to support students. Tune in to hear about their &#34;going green&#34; approach to getting students on grade level, the power of academic discourse in classrooms, and practical tips for continuous improvement throughout the school year. Perfect for educators looking to transform student engagement and learning outcomes! To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit: <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Host: Dr. Ricardoo Garcia, HostGuest: Dr. Elda Garcia, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Curriculum Associates Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 00:42) Introduction(00:43 - 04:30) Dr. Elda’s Background(04:31 - 06:47) DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)(06:48 - 11:10) Dr. Elda’s Advice(11:11 - 14:28) Meaningful Data &amp; Growth(07:29 - 15:58) What’s Unique(15:59 - 18:14) Personalized Instruction(18:15 - 20:13) Future Plans(20:14 - 22:11) Parent Engagement(22:11 - 23:40) Next 3 Years(23:41 - 24:33) Closing

Ep. 7 Unlocking Student Potential & Personalized Learning Strategies With Dr. Elda Garcia

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In this episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast, host Dr. Ricardo Garcia welcomes Mina Naranjo, Principal at Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School, and Sarah Hancock, Master Teacher at Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School, to discuss the school’s successful first year with i-Ready. Mina and Sarah share how the i-Ready platform supported significant student growth in math and helped Birdwell achieve a distinction as a “super stretch” school. They discuss the power of data-driven insights in a dual language environment, highlighting how i-Ready’s Spanish reading assessment enables targeted support for language development and academic growth. Mina and Sarah also reflect on how they celebrate student achievements and involve parents in the learning process. Tune in for an inspiring look at how Birdwell is using data to impact instruction and foster individual student progress. Be sure to like and subscribe! To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit: <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Host: Dr. Ricardo GarciaGuest: Mina Naranjo, Principal at Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School, Tyler ISDSarah Hancock, Master Teacher at Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School, Tyler ISD Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 01:28) Introduction(01:29 - 04:58) First Year of i-Ready(04:59 - 06:20) Impacting Instruction for Students(06:21 - 09:41) Painting a Picture with Data(09:42 - 11:32) Bringing in Parents(11:33 - 16:28) Reasons to Celebrate(16:29 - 17:52) Advice for Administrators and Teachers(17:53 - 18:34) Looking to the Future(18:35 - 19:19) Closing

Ep. 6 Driving Dual Language Success with i-Ready

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In this episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast, host Dr. Rick Fernandez welcomes Dr. Angela Dominguez, Superintendent at Donna ISD and Dr. Rick Garcia, Superintendent and CFO. Dr. Garcia shares her expertise on the evolving landscape of education assessment and the power of data in driving institutional impact. She discusses how high-quality data from i-Ready supports teachers and administrators, providing insights that directly connect to accountability and outcomes. Dr. Dominguez and Dr. Garcia also share their background about themselves and Donna ISD, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to research-based practices and informed expertise. Tune in and explore how data-driven solutions can improve student growth, streamline processes for educators, and create meaningful change in education. To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit: <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez, HostGuest: Dr. Angela Dominguez, Superintendent at Donna ISD Dr. Ricardo Garcia, Superintendent &amp; CFO Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 01:28) Introduction(01:29 - 02:47) Donna ISD &amp; Dr. Garcia’s Background(02:48 - 04:24) Importance of Data(04:25 - 10:01) Interventions &amp; Data(10:02 - 12:22) About iReady(12:23 - 14:36) Benefits of iReady w/ New Teachers and Leaders(14:37 - 16:39) Looking at Things From a CFO Lens(16:40 - 19:46) iReady Diagnostic(19:47 - 20:24) After Sales(20:25 - 22:22) Reach Out to Curriculum Associates(22:23 - 23:53) Trust Factor(23:54 - 25:37) Future of Donna ISD(25:38 - 26:19) Closing

Ep. 5 The Power of Data-Driven Education: Insights from Dr. Angela Dominguez and Dr. Rick Garcia

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In this episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast, host Dr. Ricardo Garcia chats with Stephanie Garcia, the Principal of Freedom Elementary School, who brings an unmistakable energy as she discusses the impact of the Magnetic Reading Foundations program. Principal Garcia shares her enthusiasm for the program&#39;s data-driven approach, which enables her team to track every student’s progress in real-time. But it’s not just her excitement—teachers were energized on the first day of school, too, excited to see students moving up grade levels ready to read. Don’t miss out on Principal Garcia’s contagious passion for improving literacy! To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit: <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 01:10) Introduction(01:11 - 02:32) Prep for Magnetic Reading(02:33 - 04:06) Achieving More Faster(04:07 - 06:24) Data Supporting Growth(06:25 - 09:08) Striving for Academic Success(09:09 - 09:23) In 3 Years…(09:24 - 09:57) Closing

Ep. 4: Using Data to Support Literacy Growth

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In this episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast, host Dr. Ricardo Garcia is joined by a team of passionate educators from Freedom Elementary in United ISD: Laura Valdez, Francisco Lara, and Lourdes Raya. Together, they explore how i-Ready’s Magnetic Reading Foundations is transforming their classrooms and helping students build reading confidence across grade levels. From providing consistent tools for teachers to tracking data that supports personalized learning, this program is making a real impact. Don’t miss these powerful testimonies on how Magnetic Reading Foundations is fostering growth in young readers! To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit: <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 01:34) Introduction(01:35 - 02:55) Magnetic Readings(02:56 - 03:55) Making It Our Own(03:56 - 06:01) Students Going at Their Own Pace(06:01 - 07:04) Directly Implementing Data for Student Benefit(07:05 - 08:59) Success Stories(09:00 - 09:46) In 3 Years…(09:47 - 10:20) Closing

Ep. 3: United ISD Finds Success with Magnetic Reading Foundations

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In this episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast, host Dr. Rick Fernandez welcomes Dr. Angela Dominguez, Superintendent at Donna ISD and Dr. Rick Garcia, Superintendent and CFO. Dr. Garcia shares her expertise on the evolving landscape of education assessment and the power of data in driving institutional impact. She discusses how high-quality data from i-Ready supports teachers and administrators, providing insights that directly connect to accountability and outcomes. Dr. Dominguez and Dr. Garcia also share their background about themselves and Donna ISD, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to research-based practices and informed expertise. Tune in and explore how data-driven solutions can improve student growth, streamline processes for educators, and create meaningful change in education. To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit: <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 01:28) Introduction(01:29 - 02:47) Donna ISD &amp; Dr. Garcia’s Background(02:48 - 04:24) Importance of Data(04:25 - 10:01) Interventions &amp; Data(10:02 - 12:22) About iReady(12:23 - 14:36) Benefits of iReady w/ New Teachers and Leaders(14:37 - 16:39) Looking at Things From a CFO Lens(16:40 - 19:46) iReady Diagnostic(19:47 - 20:24) After Sales(20:25 - 22:22) Reach Out to Curriculum Associates(22:23 - 23:53) Trust Factor(23:54 - 25:37) Future of Donna ISD(25:38 - 26:19) Closing

Ep. 2: Champions of Educational Leadership

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Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready Podcast! In this exciting first edition, our host, Dr. Rick Fernandez, sits down with two distinguished guests: Professor John Hattie, a leading education expert and Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute, and Dr. Lance Groppel, Deputy Superintendent of Administration at Tyler ISD.  Today’s episode delves into the transformative Visible Learning method pioneered by John Hattie. Our guests will explore the critical role of teacher efficacy in reducing retention issues and burnout. They also highlight the significance of goal-setting and the power of clear, actionable feedback in achieving educational success. Join us for an insightful conversation filled with valuable wisdom and practical advice that you won&#39;t want to miss! To learn more about Curriculum Associates click this link <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.curriculumassociates.com/</a>  Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez, HostGuests: John Hattie, Professor of Education &amp; Director of the Melbourne Education Research InstituteDr. Lance Groppel, Deputy Superintendent of Administration Tyler ISD Time Stamps &amp; Show Notes: (00:00 - 01:08) Introduction(01:09 - 02:05) Visible Learning(02:06 - 03:47) Collective Teacher Efficacy (03:48 - 04:49) Giving Teachers the Time(04:50 - 07:14) Students Understanding the Goal(07:15 - 09:37) Students Need to Enjoy Learning(09:38 - 14:20) Never Lose Sight of Your Goals(14:21 - 18:21) Learning What Makes the Difference(18:22 - 20:40) Addition by Subtraction(20:41 - 24:37) Retraining New Teachers(24:38 - 26:29) Getting on the Same Page(26:30 - 28:27) Interpreting Data at all Levels(28:28 - 34:05) Timely Feedback, Receiving Feedback(34:06 - 37:18) Surprising Findings(37:19 - 38:40) Using i-Ready(38:41 - 39:57) Closing

Ep. 1: Improving Education Efficiency for All

Welcome to the Curriculum Associates Podcast, where we delve into the latest trends, insights, and innovations in education. Join us as we explore how educators are transforming classrooms and engaging students to achieve their fullest potential. Each episode features expert guests who share practical strategies and inspiring stories from the front lines of education. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or education enthusiast, our podcast provides valuable resources to enhance your practice and drive student success. Tune in and be part of the conversation on shaping the future of learning.