Today’s Presenter
Mellie Joiner, M. Ed.
Keller Independent
School District
What about Tier 1?
What about Tier 1?
Creating buy-in to improve Tier 1 Instruction for ALL
students
Mellie Joiner, M. Ed.
2010 RTI Virtual Conference
July 26-30
Sponsored by Pearson
Goals for the session
• Discuss creating an atmosphere of buy-in
for all staff involved in the process
• Identify key characteristics of strong Tier
1 instruction
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
What is RtI? (Response to Intervention)
• A model of support designed to improve the delivery
of instruction for ALL students
• A model that relies on high-quality instruction and
support for student success
• A model dependent upon the implementation of
sound, research-based instructional practices
• At Tier 1, RtI is more “Response to Instruction”…
but the emphasis should be on good differentiated
instruction
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
A Basic RtI Model
The model consists of three levels or “tiers” of
intervention/instruction…
• Tier 1: Core classroom instruction for ALL students
with informal interventions as needed
• Tier 2: Strategic Intervention for students identified as
struggling in Tier 1; may be provided by the general
classroom teacher
• Tier 3: Intensive, structured intervention in groups of
no more than 3 students for students who continue to
struggle even with Tier 1 AND Tier 2 support
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
Why RtI?
“Teaching, at its core, is a moral enterprise. It is
about making a difference in the lives of
students– ALL students, regardless of class,
gender, and ethnicity.”
Michael Fullan, 1995
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
Which Tier should be the FIRST area of
focus?
TIER 1!!!!
• Is instruction for ALL learners
• Makes up the majority of the students’ day, even if
they receive intervention support
• Is the CORE of learning opportunity
• Tier 1 is the foundation upon which all future
learning is built
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
If we shore up the instruction and learning in
Tier 1, we can relieve the burden on Tier 2 and
3 support so that the students who are REALLY
in need of that support receive it.
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
What does good Tier 1 Instruction require
of the administrator?
• Support
• Knowledge of great instructional practices, grounded
in solid research
• Support
• Knowledge of data and how to use all data effectively
• Support
• Feedback
• Support
• Knowledge of content AND critical thinking
• Reflection and Support
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
What actions from administrators help
lead to buy-in from stakeholders?
• Communicate
• Dialogue
• LISTEN
• Get involved
• Increase knowledge bases… their own
and that of stakeholders
• Reflect and respond
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
So what does Tier 1 require of the
teacher?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Planning
Data assessment
Planning
Instructional delivery and best practices
Planning
Grouping
Reflection and planning
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
The Instructional Planning CYCLE
• What gaps still exist?
• What extensions are
needed?
• What connections still
need to be made?
• Informal/Formal;
• Continuous/on-going
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
• Use all available data
• What are the needs?
• What is needed to meet
the needs?
• Strategies and techniques
Adjust
Plan
Assess/Evaluate
Implement
• Collaborative
implementation of the plan
• Involves ALL stakeholders
What should teachers consider when
PLANNING for instruction?
• Instructional Delivery: Includes strategies and techniques… the
“how”
• Instructional Materials: The “stuff” used to support instruction…
the “with what”
• Instructional Environment: The instructional context… the
“where”
• Instructional Content: The curriculum of what students need to
know and do… the “what”
• Instructional Assessment: Beginning and ending; informal and
formal; the “how do you know”
• Collaboration: The way that all of the pieces of the learning process
come together; teachers and staff working together to meet
student needs… the “who”
Adapted from Voltz, Sims, and Nelson (2010)
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
What are our next steps?
• Collect as much data as you can.
• Analyze that data looking for all kinds of trends and
patterns.
• Look at what is working for ALL of your students
and build on that.
• Look at what is not working for more than 20%
(based on data) of your students and make a plan to
improve.
• Repeat frequently.
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
Questions?
Contact me:
Mellie Joiner, M.Ed.
melliejoiner@me.com
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by
References and Resources
• Howell, K and Nolet, V. (1999). Curriculum-Based Evaluation:
Teaching and Decision Making. 3rd Edition. Wadsworth
Publications.
• Johnson E, Mellard D, Fuchs D, McKnight M. (2006).
Responsiveness to Intervention (RTI): How to Do It. National
Research Center on Learning Disabilities.
• Voltz, D., Sims, M.J., Nelson, B. (2010). Connecting teachers,
students, and standards: Strategies for success in diverse and
inclusive classrooms. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
• Wright, J. (2007). RTI Toolkit: A Practical Guide for Schools. New
York: Dude Publishing.
2010 RTI Virtual Conference - Sponsored by