An RtI Overview
RtI is a
framework for providing services to students and is often categorized into three tiers (1, 2, and 3). RtI begins with
high-quality instruction for all students in
Tier 1. For those students who don’t respond positively to this instruction and/or demonstrate difficulty on a screening measure and therefore, are in need of additional support (academically and/or behaviorally),
Tier 2 targeted interventions are provided. These interventions are provided in addition to core instruction in Tier 1 and should be fully aligned with that core instruction and delivered by the general education teacher in the classroom. If students still demonstrate a negative response,
Tier 3 intervention is often recommended. Tier 3 interventions are highly intensive and delivered by someone specifically trained to deliver that intervention. This could be an intervention teacher, counselor, special education teacher, or other qualified professional. Remember, when determining Tier 3 services, you are not assigning the students to a particular level. Rather, if the entire RtI framework is utilized, all students are considered “RtI students.” RtI isn’t a program that you buy —
it’s an approach that you use.
What do Learning A-Z’s six sites provide?
1) Differentiated Instruction — For any student struggling to remain in the General Education environment, a critical success factor is having customized, appropriately leveled materials to make clear, measured gains. Learning A-Z is built on this idea of providing a wealth of leveled resources to help teachers differentiate their instruction and monitor student progress.
2) Tiered Intervention — For any RtI program, it’s important to have resources that work at all three tiers of instruction: 1) Full class, 2) Small Group, 3) Individual. Whereas Differentiated Instruction is about the materials and customization for each student (taking into account, not just level, but student interest, genre, etc), Tiered Intervention is about HOW the teacher interacts with the student. Learning A-Z’s sites cover the full range of RtI (Tiers 1, 2, and 3).
3) Motivation — This is key to building confidence, making progress, and solidifying a stronger school-to-home connection (important for RtI to be successful). Includes the feeling of ownership students have when choosing, printing, and keeping books in Reading A-Z, the Raz Rocket in Raz-Kids, the RAZWowzers downloadable student cards and certificates for Reading A-Z, etc.
4) Practice — Obviously motivation and practice go hand-in-hand. For students to make progress at every RtI tier, they need tools that make it easy for them to practice and move forward. This is about access, either through printed materials just for them, online access to Raz-Kids, etc.
5) Assessment — Teachers need tools that help them benchmark and monitor student progress. Learning A-Z provides a variety of assessment resources, including benchmark books, running records, quizzes, and other tools that measure and track comprehension and reading rate.
Want to download samples from Learning A-Z?
