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
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Have feedback, questions, or want to be a guest? Email ExtraordinaryEducators@cainc.com to connect with us!