North Billerica, MA, June 29, 2021
Curriculum Associates recently acquired Mentoring Minds, a Texas-based education company that publishes the ThinkUp!® Standards Mastery System. This English language arts, math, science, and writing curriculum featuring assessments and additional resources will migrate to the Teacher Toolbox for i-Ready® to further support teaching and learning in the upcoming school year. Today, i-Ready serves more than nine million students and 25 percent of all K–8 students in the United States.
“Joining the Curriculum Associates family gives Mentoring Minds scale and resources to further improve our program offering and ultimately reach more students with ThinkUp!,” said Shad Madsen, CEO of Mentoring Minds. “As we prepare to support learning in the upcoming school year, educators will continue to have access to ThinkUp! as well as new i-Ready learning resources. We are confident the increased functionality, robust new tools, and best-in-class security will enhance the teaching and learning experience for all.”
Founded by teachers, Mentoring Minds supports principals and educators with the research-based resources needed to teach critical thinking and improve student achievement. Its ThinkUp! Standards Mastery System provides rigorous materials that elevate achievement among all students while teaching the 9 Traits of Critical ThinkingTM. The company, which has a 19-year history in the education space, identified Curriculum Associates as the ideal steward for its next phase.
“Curriculum Associates and Mentoring Minds share a deep commitment to supporting educators and helping students learn and achieve,” said Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates. “We are thrilled to expand our program offerings with the addition of the Mentoring Minds product suite and confident our teams’ shared values and passion for service will guide our work moving forward.”
Curriculum Associates has supported classroom teaching and learning for the past 50-plus years. The company offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs, including its flagship i-Ready program, which makes the promise of differentiated instruction a practical reality for K–12 teachers and students. The program combines powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction in reading and mathematics to address students’ individual needs.
The Diagnostic provides educators with actionable criterion-referenced and normative data to deliver impactful, equitable learning experiences. Teachers administer the Diagnostic at the beginning of the school year to chart a course for their instruction and to personalize i-Ready instructional paths. A midyear and end-of-year Diagnostic helps students and teachers measure growth and have data chats. Teacher-led and personalized instruction continues throughout the year to help students grow and access their grade-level learning.
The Teacher Toolbox for i-Ready is a digital collection of K–8 resources that support educators in differentiating instruction for students performing on, below, and above grade level, as recommended by the Diagnostic. It contains lessons, assessments, discourse supports, and more to help educators implement data-informed whole class and small group instruction.
To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit CurriculumAssociates.com.
Mentoring Minds®, ThinkUp!®, and 9 Traits of Critical ThinkingTM are registered trademarks of Mentoring Minds, LLC.
About Curriculum Associates
Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company’s products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.
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