Igniting Writing Growth
An Ysleta Middle School Impact Story
How veteran teachers with 64 years of combined experience partnered with Curipod to maximize every minute of instruction for emergent bilingual students — Ysleta ISD, less than two miles from the U.S.–Mexico border.
A Familiar Challenge
Ysleta Middle School sits less than two miles from the U.S.–Mexico border, serving a student body where many are emergent bilinguals navigating language learning on a daily basis.
For 6th-grade teacher Melissa Castillo and 8th-grade teacher Lori Kohan-Nanez, the challenge was clear: teaching both reading and writing to students with diverse language needs in just 45 minutes per day. Every minute had to count.
“We have a lot of emergent bilingual students. The border is less than two miles from where I'm sitting… using the language is a daily struggle.
— Elyse Hernandez, Instructional Technology Coach
The Ysleta Team
Time Was Short, Feedback Came Too Late
Time was short, engagement was inconsistent, and feedback often came too late to make an impact. Traditional feedback cycles stretched over days, leaving students disengaged. Many struggled to see themselves as capable writers.
“When you hold back feedback for more than 24 hours, it becomes less meaningful. Being able to give immediate feedback is a game-changer.
— Elyse Hernandez, Instructional Technology Coach
Teachers knew what mattered — timely feedback, active participation, and visible growth — but without the right tools, delivering on those priorities felt impossible.
How Curipod Transformed the Classroom
Immediate, Actionable Feedback
“Curipod transformed writing into something immediate, motivating, and measurable for my students.”
— Melissa CastilloEngagement & Community
“My classroom feels like a community. Students engaged, discussed, and held each other accountable.”
— Melissa CastilloBest-Practice Pedagogy
“Curipod has our students excited. It brings Kagan-style strategies back into the room.”
— Elyse HernandezSafe Participation
“It's electric! Like a fire rocket — you're igniting it, and then we watch the kids go off. It's beautiful to see.”
— Lori Kohan-Nanez
Students respond to inference prompts in real time
AI feedback helps students revise and improve on the spot
Undeniable Outcomes
Though district-wide comparisons are complex, the outcomes were undeniable.
- In Castillo's class, the number of students who received a zero on their STAAR ECR was drastically reduced
- Castillo's consistent use of Curipod boosted student confidence, allowing them to take more risks in their writing, leading directly to improved results on their state test scores
- In Kohan-Nanez's classes, students' consistent use of Curipod for practice and assessment on STAAR writing prompts allowed them to incorporate the feedback and improve their writing skills, contributing to the growth and success of her classes' scores
For students, the shift wasn't just about scores but also about confidence. One student who had never earned points on a STAAR writing task finally did, and the achievement carried him for weeks.
“It doesn't put them on the spot because it changes their name. But it helped them give a little extra effort because they knew it was going to be on the screen.
— Lori Kohan-Nanez, 8th Grade Teacher
Together, these shifts — immediate feedback, visible growth, and safe participation — transformed how students approached writing and how teachers measured success.
Why It Matters
For Ysleta Middle School, Curipod provided what teachers had always wanted: a way to fit best practices into limited time, to give feedback that mattered, and to see growth in every student.
Curipod is the most innovative tool I've used in my classroom in the last five years!
— Melissa Castillo, 6th Grade TeacherWhen strong teaching meets the right tools, students rise, no matter how limited the minutes or how high the hurdles.