Fall Fluency for RTI

Looking for some fall-themed fluency activities for RTI?  Head on over to http://arlenesandberg.blogspot.com/2014/09/building-fluency-with-fall-fluency.html.  They have a free pack of fall-themed fluency activities for you to try with students.  I loved them so much that I bought the entire pack of activities.  It was only $4!!!

Tier 1 RTI reading interventions

I was looking around the internet and came across this website:  http://www.pavilioncsd.org/webpages/mnoble/index.cfm.  It has TONS of reading interventions for Tier 1 reading support.  All of the files are free to download.  Take a look and let me know what you think!

A new resource I found online......

Today I found a new resource that I just have to share with everyone. It arrived in a newsletter. I try to check out links that come in my newsletters but don't always find that they suit my needs. But today was different; I found a blog that is chock full of information and resources. Go take a look at LeadScape. This blog deals with a large array of issues that surround the subject of inclusion. Professional development is available if you take a look at the bar to the left side of the blog. I found information on RTI that is available for free to download! Woo hoo! I know teachers love free resources. Take a look and leave a comment about what you found to be helpful.

More on Response to Intervention (RTI)

Our previous article explored some of the frequently asked questions about Response to Intervention (RTI). I would like to continue with that theme and provide more information. RTI is composed of several activities that support students in both academics and behavior. Parent involvement is strongly encouraged and documented throughout the process. RTI supports the use of high-quality instructional and behavioral structure in a school. Scientific, research-based interventions are provided to students on a consistent basis to students who have been found "at-risk". These interventions are documented so that both parents and school personnel are aware of what the specific components and structure of the process are in regards to the interventions. Interventions address each individual student's learning difficulties and provide the needed level of intensity in order to make adequate progress. Progress is continuously monitored of at-risk students in order to help guide their instruction and ensure the instruction is meeting their needs. This data is documented and maintained on each student to help ensure that interventions are being implemented with fidelity and the intended intensity. The team of parents and school personnel use the data to make a data-based decision as to if interventions are working or if a comprehensive evaluation might be necessary in order to rule out the possibility of a learning disability.
Response to Intervention is a multi-layered process. It allows home and school to collaborate on ways to support a student in need. RTI is a process that is growing and changing, improving what all of us can do to help that student reach their potential and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions About RTI

FAQ: Response to Intervention (RTI)

1. Q: What is Response to Intervention (RTI)?

A: Response to Intervention is a multitiered process that provides interventions to struggling learners at increasing levels of intensity. Universal screenings are used for the early identification of struggling learners. The process allows for collaboration between teachers, specialists, and parents in order to plan strategies and the use of resources to help a student make progress in the general curriculum.

2. Q: What is the purpose of RTI?

A: RTI is intended to provide interventions to a student before they begin to fail. This is different from the discrepancy method which has been called the "wait to fail" approach. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 allows the use of RTI data as part of the evaluation for learning disabilities. This Act adds the concept in eligibility that prohibits children from being found eligible for special education if they have not received instruction in the five components of reading as identified by Reading First. The components are: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

3. Q: What are the other benefits to RTI?

A: RTI has many benefits. It promotes collaboration between general education and special education professionals, earlier identification of students using a problem-solving approach, and the provision of more instructionally relevant data.

4. Q: What are the central principles of Response to Intervention?

A: First, schools should use scientific, researched-based interventions and instruction in general education. These interventions and instruction should have a high probability of success for the majority of the students. Teachers should monitor classroom performance and progress to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards on a regular basis. Waiting until information is provided on statewide assessments does not allow the teacher to adjust their teaching and lesson plans throughout the year.

These are just four of many of the questions about RTI. As the year progresses we will continue to answer more questions. If you have a question about RTI, please send it in an email and we will do our best to address it.

Response to Intervention

Well, the school year has begun for some students! Our district has several schools operating on what we call a "year-round" schedule. Those students have already been in class for 3 weeks and have had a chance to settle in. Teachers have been giving our first benchmark universal screenings for the school year during this time period. It is important to see where your students are beginning with their knowledge in order to effectively plan instruction to take them where you would like them to be. Every year we have new teachers and even established teachers who need a little refresher on Response to Intervention. So below is a brief outline of our district's approved RTI plan for the area of reading:

I. Tier 1

• All students participate in Tier 1
• 80-90% of students should respond to effective literacy instruction. Our district has 120 minutes of literacy instruction daily, of which 90 of those minutes is uninterrupted.
• Benchmark universal screenings occur 3 times a year.
• Schools have school teams that meet an average of every 4 weeks to review students who are struggling, brainstorm interventions, and document information.
• Progress monitoring will occur weekly using a CBM probe.
  
• Moving students to Tier 2 requires a data-based decision. The student must be at or below the 10th percentile for both the performance and growth rate of progress monitoring.
  

II. Tier 2

• 5-15% of students participate in Tier 2.
• Documentation is vital of interventions. This should include the data of how the decision was made if it was effective or not.
• Progress monitoring will occur weekly.
• Interventions can occur in small group or individually depending on the course of action chosen by the RTI Team. Student will receive a minimum of three, 3o minute sessions per week to address areas determined by the RTI Team.
• Parents are strongly encouraged to participate in the process. They will receive a progress note every 4 1/2 weeks.
• After 9 weeks of interventions a data-based decision is made by the RTI Team:
  

a. Student is making progress and just needs another round of Tier 2
b. Student has accomplished goals and returns to Tier 1
c. Student has performance scores at or below the 10th percentile and a growth rate of progress monitoring at or below the 25th percentile. Student would then be eligible to move forward towards Tier 3.

III. Tier 3

• Student will continue to receive Tier 2 interventions during the evaluation process.
• School psychologist will review all data and perform any additional testing considered necessary to determine eligibility for special education.
• An IEP Team will determine eligibility.
  
• All special education procedures will apply at this time.
• Progress monitoring will occur weekly.

Please remember that this is just the "cliff notes" version of our plan. You can contact either one of our RTI Coordinators for further information.