RTI and LEARNING-FOCUSED
What You Need to Know About
Succeeding with Response to Intervention
“The Learning-Focused models are a philosophy of teaching rather than a program. Under this philosophy, teachers learn to organize the delivery of instruction in a way that tailors skill development for each child. This philosophy truly takes into account the developmental process of learning, problem solving, and learning to read and write. Learning-Focused provides teachers with essential tools that make learning effective, fun, and exciting each day. Implementing this philosophy and style into a school will revolutionize the way teachers have traditionally taught. You’ll love the results!”
Angela L. Martin, Principal
Achieving Success with RTI
What you need to know about Response to Intervention and Learning-Focused
The passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Education Act (IDEA) with the addition of Early Intervening Services (EIS) in 2004, changed the procedure for the classification of students as learning disabled. Districts and schools began implementing a procedure known as response to intervention (RTI)to meet the IDEA requirements. RTI benefits struggling students in the regular classroom by requiring early intervention of additional academic and behavioral support. Response to Intervention (RTI) is how the additional support is provided to at-risk students!
Learning-Focused is a leader when it comes to Response to Intervention frameworks!
Not sure? Just ask Dr. Rachel Burwell of the Delaware Department of Education:
“RTI must be research and evidence based. Learning-Focused is beyond reproach with its connections to the USDOE scientific research. RTI must be implemented with fidelity and the Learning-Focused Monitoring for Achievement solution addresses this better than anything else that I have seen. Learning-Focused provides a focus on strategies and standards, not on any specific curriculum or program which allows it to be implemented with any scientifically based curriculum and still meet the requirements of RTI. Learning-Focused solutions (Differentiated Assignments; Scaffolding Grade Level Learning, Catching Kids Up with Acceleration, and Vocabulary Instruction) provide the strategies necessary to reach all students, and assist them in meeting or exceeding grade level expectations. With an emphasis on the above, and Extending Thinking strategies, all students, whether at risk or gifted, benefit and increase their achievement with Learning-Focused.”
Dr. Burwell’s statement supports William Bender’s description of RTI as a process of implementing high-quality, scientifically validated instructional practices based on learner needs, monitoring students’ progress, and adjusting instruction based on the student’s response (Response to Intervention, 2007). One of the key reasons for RTI was the concern that students were being classified as having a disability without the assurance that his or her learning problem was not linked to inadequate instruction. Learning-Focused trains teachers in high quality, research-based instruction with a model that works in schools!
The United States Department of Education Top 5 Strategies for Closing the Achievement Gap
Learning-Focused utilizes all of the top 5 strategies identified by the US DOE as critical in closing the achievement gap and has been successful across the country in moving schools and districts from low performing to exemplary AND from average to exemplary! With the right models, RTI will fundamentally change the quality of instruction in your school. You will not find a better Tier 1 and Tier 2 model than Learning-Focused.
Increase learning as you decrease behavior issues! Decrease behavior issues by as much as 70% and increase learning for all students with Learning-Focused!
Are you targeting core instruction in reading?
The Learning-Focused Learning to Read model is a USDOE award winning model for reading instruction! And, the Learning-Focused Reading Comprehension and Reading Assignments model has been recognized by the US government as specifically the type of instruction that exemplifies the No Child Left Behind Act!
“This reading model is vital to student learning. It is a tool which allows teachers to assess student needs and devise a plan for their success. This model ties the components together (reading, writing and word study) and gives students a clear understanding of the reading process.”
- Sharon Frith, Title I Reading Specialist
“This model works great for differentiating instruction and observing student’s needs.”
- Robin Yarber, Teacher
“This reading model helps all students ENJOY reading, regardless of their instructional level or ability.”
- Rebecca Joyce, Teacher
“It is exhilarating to see students so excited about reading. The sense of accomplishment, the energy, the excitement and the sheer joy on the students’ faces is a testament to the growth in reading that this model provides.”
- Susan Tucker, Curriculum Facilitator
“Learning-Focused has turned our school around. In a three year period we have gone from governance in NCLB sanctions to being out of school improvement altogether. We attribute all of our success to the implementation of Learning-Focused. The fact that it is a model, and not a program, makes it adaptable to any state or district requirements allowing anyone to be successful with the strategies. We are gradually implementing the model in all areas of our instruction, the Learning-Focused Literacy model is skyrocketing our reading instruction. Learning-Focused is helping us to quickly close the gap.”
- Cheryl Ellis, Principal
Both reading models are proven time and again to take K-5 schools with 90+% free/reduced lunch to 98.7% proficiency at or above grade level!
At the secondary level, the Reading Comprehension and Reading Assignments model has proven success for increasing achievement in all content areas!
With just a few resources and a few days of professional development, your school will start meeting your improvement goals more quickly and longer term than any other model. The instructional and monitoring practices gained from Learning-Focused will increase student achievement across the board!
“RTI is the practice of providing high-quality instruction and intervention matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about change in instruction or goals and applying child response data to important educational decisions. RTI should be applied to decisions in general, remedial and special education, creating a well-integrated system of instruction/intervention guided by child outcome data.”
- NASDSE, 2005
The RTI Paradigm Shift
It is our responsibility to identify the curricular, instructional, and environmental conditions that enable learning. A lack of learning strategies does not mean we can identify students as learning disabled any longer. RTI and Learning-Focused are PREVENTION-ORIENTED. It is impossible to implement RTI without fully involving general education due to the way it requires a new way of thinking about instruction, achievement, and individual differences. At all levels of RTI, most interventions will take place in the general education classroom.
Effective implementation of RTI means that you must do the following:
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Identify students who need intervention
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Provide interventions that resolves the learning difficulty for most students
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Monitor interventions for positive effects and to ensure fidelity
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Evaluate the need for intervention changes
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Connect results and data to special education referrals and eligibility requirements
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Connect results and data to RTI implementation changes(professional development, resources, etc…)
Every student must be targeted for learning, and instruction must be focused on learning! With Learning-Focused, teachers and administrators will have exactly what they need for Tier 1 instruction and monitoring; know exactly when and with whom to provide Tier 2 strategies; and have the knowledge, skills, and resources to do both extremely well.
The Learning-Focused model includes the following solutions for Tier 1:
Learning-Focused Strategies: Transforming Standards Into Learning – the only standards driven model for planning what students need to learn
Learning-Focused Strategies: Acquisition Lessons – planning, instruction, and assessments that ensures students acquire new knowledge. The Acquisition Lesson Plan is driven by the Top 5 Strategies for increasing achievement!
Learning-Focused Strategies: Connecting Extending Thinking – connecting planning, instruction, and assessments to higher level thinking
Learning-Focused Strategies: Planning Units for Learning – a framework that puts it all together to ensure every student is learning
Learning to Read, Reading Comprehension Strategies, and Reading Assignments Strategies – proven reading intervention models to increase reading successes
Reading Strategies for Assessments - strategies that are ongoing within each lesson that ensure student success on assessments by developing an understanding of their state strands
Vocabulary Instruction – cognitive strategies that target acquisition and long term use
Power Curriculum – the only standards driven curriculum development model that ensures the core curriculum is acquired by all students and easily implemented and monitored by all teachers
The Learning-Focused model includes the following solutions for Tier 1 and 2:
Catching Kids Up with Acceleration - a model that catches kids up to grade level by accelerating learning instead of just remediation
Scaffolding Grade Level Learning – strategies that are integrated into instruction that ensures all students are meeting or exceeding grade level expectations
Differentiated Assignments – a differentiation model that is actually practical for all teachers to implement in their classrooms to target individual learning differences
Vocabulary Instruction – cognitive strategies that target acquisition and long term use
Learning to Read, Reading Comprehension Strategies, and Reading Assignment Strategies – proven reading intervention models to increase reading successes
Reading Strategies for Assessments - strategies that are ongoing within each lesson that ensure student success on assessments by developing an understanding of their state strands
Progress Monitoring and Continuous Support
Not only does Learning-Focused provide evidence based intervention models and the monitoring of student learning, but also the resources to ensure all six procedures are being done systematically with quality. Follow-up training, conferencing, and work with coaches, facilitators, and administrators are all part of the Learning-Focused model.
The target level of intervention is your core curriculum!
The first tier is focused specifically at the school core curriculum level meaning that the target level of intervention is the core curriculum. In this tier approximately 80% to 85% of the general student body should be able to meet grade level norms without additional assistance. The 15% to 20% of students who consistently show a discrepancy between their current level of performance and that of the expected level of performance are then given Tier 2 or secondary, supplementary instruction services(not to be confused with special education) targeting the problems the student is having.
The Learning-Focused Power Curriculum solution ensures that by prioritizing standards, the essential student expectations are clearly the focus of the core curriculum.
There is nothing else on the market that works with you to develop a core curriculum that:
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Targets the most essential standards
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Integrates higher level thinking
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Integrates reading comprehension strategies
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Identifies key vocabulary
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Clearly identifies what students need to know and do to be successful
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Provides progress monitoring embedded in student learning goals, activities, and lessons
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A specific and direct focus on learning and differentiation
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Provides exactly what you need to be successful at all three tiers of learning!
WITH RTI, PROGRESS MONITORING INSTRUMENTS MUST BE CURRICULUM BASED!
Learning-Focused Power Curriculum is the only standards driven curriculum model with built-in progress monitoring!
As you are implementing, evaluating, and refining your RTI plan you owe it to your students, parents and teachers to learn more about Learning-Focused.
