The beginning of the school year is full of firsts—first greetings, first classroom routines, first glimpses into who your students are as learners. But let’s be honest: getting to know all of your students quickly and meaningfully is no small task.
You need more than just anecdotal notes and hallway chats to understand your students’ strengths, gaps, and readiness. You need data you can trust and relationships that last beyond the first week.
With ESGI, you can do both.
Here’s how ESGI helps you get to know your students in a way that’s fast, reliable, and relationship-building from day one.
1. Assess Early to Build Trust and Insight
Start your year with a one-on-one moment that matters. ESGI’s digital assessments are quick and simple, but they create valuable face-to-face time to connect with each student. You’ll be building trust while gathering real data on foundational skills.
The best part? You’ll walk away from those first days of school with baseline data that helps you:
- Understand where each student is starting
- Identify gaps and intervene early
- Support classroom routines and small group structures with confidence
2. Use the Right Tests to Get the Right Insights
Assess your students using the tests that align with your scope and sequence. Not sure where to begin? ESGI’s Test Explorer is full of assessments aligned to foundational standards and your scope and sequence. Try starting with the Gap Analysis Tests, specifically designed to identify early learning gaps in key skills.
You can assess on your laptop or iPad, and students love the interactive Student Screen feature, which allows them to respond on a second device like a tablet or Chromebook.
3. Review Baseline Scores with the Class Totals Report
Once you’ve assessed your students, head to the Class Totals Report to view Baseline (B) scores. You can even sort them to quickly see who may need extra support right away. This gives you a fast, accurate snapshot of your classroom before your first full week is even over. From there, use the insights to:
- Prioritize early intervention
- Adjust your pacing
- Document student growth from the very beginning
4. Group with Confidence Using Item Analysis
Once your baseline is set, it’s time to take action. ESGI’s Item Analysis Report makes it easy to identify patterns, skill gaps, and opportunities for grouping.
The built-in bar graphs help you quickly:
- See which skills were mastered across the class
- Spot which questions or concepts need reteaching
- Create flexible small groups with shared needs
Pro tip: Download the Item Analysis spreadsheet—your small groups are already pre-sorted on the second tab!
Ready to get to know your students and start strong?
The sooner you truly know your students, the sooner you can meet their needs. ESGI gives you the tools to connect, assess, and act without losing precious time.
Log in to ESGI, explore the Test Explorer, and run your baseline assessments today.
New to ESGI? Sign up for your free 60-day trial using promo code FUTUREYOU
