1. Turtle Mountain School District
The What and Why of RTI – Deepening Theoretical and PRACTICAL Understandings
Chris Weber
@Chi_educate
Chris Weber Education 1

2. RTI Response to Intervention
HEE Highly Effective Education

3. Why RTI?
Deeper Learning
Equitable Learning

4. Why RTI?
Academics
Behavior

5. Where Did RTI Come From? Mastery Learning Effective Schools Movement
Time + Support = Learning
Effective Schools Movement
ALL students can learn
Professional Learning Communities
Pyramid of interventions

6. Four Questions of PLCs Four Questions of RTI
What is it we expect students to learn?
How will students demonstrate they have learned it?
How will we respond when students don’t learn?
How will we respond when students already know it?
About which students do we have concerns?
In what areas do we have concerns?
What supports are/should we be providing?
Has the student responded to instruction and intervention?

7. The Three Big Ideas of PLCs
The Four Critical Questions of PLCs

8. The Three Big Ideas
Focus on Learning Collaborative Culture Focus on Results

9. Focus on Learning
The fundamental purpose of the school is to ensure high levels of learning for all students. This focus on learning translates into four critical questions that drive the daily work of the school. Educators demonstrate their commitment to helping all students learn by working collaboratively to address four questions.

10. What are Characteristics of a Focus on Learning?
Mid-lesson checks for understanding End of lesson exit slips Built-in preview days Built-in review days An expectation that students will re-complete an assignment or assessment related to critical learning on which they did not demonstrate mastery

11. Collaborative Culture
No school can help all students achieve at high levels if teachers work in isolation. Schools improve when teachers are given the time and support to work together to clarify essential student learning, develop common assessments for learning, analyze evidence of student learning, and use that evidence to learn from one another.

12. What are Characteristics of a Collaborative Culture?
Regular time for collaboration Norms that focus collaboration Evidence of collaboration outside of “Collaboration Time” Collaboration is not an option – no one can opt out Products and evidence of improved student learning from collaborative efforts

13. Focus on Results
PLCs measure their effectiveness on the basis of results rather than intentions. All programs, policies, and practices are continually assessed on the basis of their impact on student learning. All staff members receive relevant and timely information on their effectiveness in achieving intended results.

14. What are Characteristics of a Focus on Results?
Teachers enthusiastically analyze their data in relation to other teachers data Teachers are willing and eager to share strategies that have resulted in high level so student learning Teachers visit one another’s classrooms to study best practices

15. Four Critical Questions of RTI
What do we want students to learn? How will students demonstrate they have learned it? What will we do if they don’t learn? What will we do if they already know it?

16. What Do We Want Students To Learn?
What should each student know and be able to do as a result of each unit, grade level, and/or course?

17. What are Characteristics of a Curriculum Focused on Essential Learning Outcomes?
Teacher teams have collaboratively identified essential learning targets Teacher have collaboratively unpacked learning targets Teachers prioritize instruction within a unit of instruction to ensure that all students master the essentials

18. How will students demonstrate they have learned it?
Are we monitoring each student’s learning on a timely basis?

19. How Will Teams Gather Evidence of Student Learning?
Teacher teams have…
…designed common formative assessments to measure student learning of essential standards
…administered common formative assessments to measure student learning of essential standards
…collectively analyzed evidence to determine…
…the specific learning needs of each child
…the effectiveness of the instruction the child receives in meeting these needs

20. Assessment Universal screeners Who requires intensive supports CFAs
Mastery of essentials at Tier 1
Diagnostics
Why are students at risk
Progress monitoring
Response to Tier 2 and 3

21. What Will We Do If They Don’t Learn?
What systematic process is in place to provide additional time and support for students who are experiencing difficulty?

22. What are Characteristics of Systematic Interventions?
Schools have identified…
When supplemental supports can be provided in additional to core instruction on essential standards
Who on staff is available, qualified, and trained to provide supports
What resources and strategies can be used to meet student needs

23. What Will We Do If They Already Know It?
What systematic process is in place to extend and enrich learning to greater levels of depth and complexity?

24. What are Characteristics of 21st Century Skills?
Teams have identified the 21st Century Skills that they believe students should possess Teams have identified how essential learning can be explored to greater levels of depth and complexity Teams have differentiated content, the learning processes, and products that students create to demonstrate mastery

25. What is RTI?
Systems of Support
Coordination
Communication
Success

26. What is RTI? RTI is a Verb Problem-Solving Process
Systemizing the Great of Work of Teachers
Organized Passion
HO – RTI is…

27. What Might RTI Look Like?
Tier 1
Viable, Clearly Defined Curriculum
Formative Assessments
Scaffolds and Differentiation
Small Group Supports 27

28. What Might RTI Look Like?
Tier 2
If It’s Predictable, It’s Preventable
More Time
Alternate Approaches
Mastery of Prioritized Tier 1 Content 28

29. What Might RTI Look Like?
Tier 3
Deficits in Foundational Prerequisite Skills
Early and Intensive
Diagnostic and Targeted
Close the Gap 29

30. How Will RTI Lead to Success
Culture
Beliefs
Expectations
Collaboration
Cooperation
Compromise
Consistency
Structures
Roles
Responsibilities
Schedules
Personnel
Resources
Mutual Support and Accountability

31. Culture
What is school culture? What cultures are important to RTI? How will RTI look at your school? How will build and sustain an RTI-driven system of supports at your school?

32. Collaborative Teacher
Three Critical Teams
School
Intervention
Team
School
Leadership
Team
Collaborative Teacher
Teams 32

33. Collaborative Teacher Teams
The Key to RTI HEE PLC’S
Will discuss McKenzie report: world’s most successful school districts
1. Teacher collaboration
2. Problem solving structures
3. Intervention

34. Tasks and Roles of Collaborative Teacher Teams

35. Tier 1
Viable, Clearly Defined Curriculum Common Formative Assessments Scaffolds and Differentiation Small Group Supports
Quick reference to morning conversation – the structure of collaborative teacher teams drives this work and helps us professionally identify next steps as opposed to grabbing onto the “next best thing” .
HO – RTI Tiers 1 and 2 35

36. Viable Curriculum “What do we want our students to learn?”
Why the task of a teacher teams? Why collaboratively? What is the BC Context?
Handout I’ll develop: Current BC standards and current drafts of standards being developed
BC context: increased focus on cross-curricular competencies vrs. Rote learning of information. However, what academic, learning skills are critical for students to effectively engage in cross-curricular learning. Magnifies the need to identify essential learning outcomes that have leverage.
HO – Cognitive Planning Protocol

37. Table Talk HO – RTI Process for Teacher Teams
Proactive planning for student engagement and success.
How will those collaborative task impact learning?
HO – RTI Process for Teacher Teams

38. Common Formative Assessments “How will our students demonstrate their learning?”
Why the task of a teacher teams? Why collaboratively? What is the BC Context?
Each question presented w/ explanation followed by participant input
BC context – less pressure for formative assessments that are “packaged” – the goal is to ensure student learning. Who better to design assessments for that purpose?
Connection to Western Canadian Protocol – Assessment for, of, as learning.
HO – Data Analysis Protocol

39. Table Talk Why would we link the development of CFA’s to planning?
What are the benefits of collectively designing or identifying common formative assessments?
What barriers need to be considered in your context?
Chris, what questions would you pose to the participants to reflect here? I think I have too many for the time frame.

40. Scaffolds, Differentiation and Small Group Supports
Why the task of a teacher teams? Why collaboratively? What is the BC Context?
Cognitive planning process
“Teaching is the highest form of understanding” –Aristotle
Combining the depth of knowledge developed from defining a viable curriculum w/ teachers’ professional depth of knowledge of student learning and students as learners is a powerful outcome of this work.
Other notes:
Our reality – our classrooms are comprised of learners with complex needs – we know (can predict) that our students will respond to our instruction differently, that they will need DI to successful master these essential or critical learning outcomes to strengthen our Tier 1 outcomes – what can they look like? This proactive planning for learning is an essential element of RTI – however, like every aspect of RTI, we know this planning process is more powerful when collaboration and professional interchange of ideas is part of the process. This does not mean that teachers won’t be doing much of this work directly for their learning environments but it does mean that there are opportunities to collaborate and reflect.

41. Table Talk
Despite our efforts with providing highly effective Tier 1 instruction, is it likely we will have students who will need extra time or supports to master the essential learning outcomes? In addition, our data analysis which includes the common formative assessments provides critical data - discuss data analysis protocol
Star = Data Analysis protocol

42. Tier 2
If It’s Predictable, It’s Preventable More Time Alternate Approaches Mastery of Prioritized Tier 1 Content
Quick reference to morning and connect to why the collaborative element of the teacher teams is critical – no teacher alone is responsible but as an educational community we are prepared to respond.
Will use a math example of how the intervention may look different than initial instruction
Chris, Will also highlight the difference between Tier 2 and 3 here and connect to the work you are doing in your session. 42

43. Table Talk
Cautions:
In class supports to greatest extent possible. However, Tier 2 or 3 for that matter – not equivalent to place but to level and intensity of support. CRITICAL that the professionals who work with students collaborate – allows us to collectively infuse common language and to reinforce interventions.

44. Collaborative Teacher
Three Critical Teams
School
Intervention
Team
School
Leadership
Team
Collaborative Teacher
Teams
HO – RTI Teams 44

45. RTI Teams Teacher Teams
Define the roles of YOUR team. What “outcomes” are produced?
Define the membership of YOUR team.
Define the meeting days and times of YOUR team.
Define the norms and agendas of YOUR team. To what tasks do they contribute?
Define when and how YOUR team communicates with others.
Teacher
Teams
HO – RTI Teams 45

46. Three Critical Teams School Leadership Team
Define the roles of YOUR team. What “outcomes” are produced?
Define the membership of YOUR team.
Define the meeting days and times of YOUR team.
School
Leadership
Team
Define the norms and agendas of YOUR team. To what tasks do they contribute?
Define when and how YOUR team communicates with others.
HO – RTI Teams
HO – RTI Process for Leadership Teams 46

47. Three Critical Teams School Intervention Team
Define the roles of YOUR team. What “outcomes” are produced?
Define the membership of YOUR team.
Define the meeting days and times of YOUR team.
Define the norms and agendas of YOUR team. To what tasks do they contribute?
Define when and how YOUR team communicates with others.
School
Intervention
Team
HO – RTI Teams 47

48. Three Critical Teams School Intervention Team School Leadership Team
Teacher
Teams 48

49. Systems & Cycle of Inquiry
Identify Formulate questions Develop an intervention plan Implement the plan Monitor student progress Develop / refine the hypothesis
Regardless of the student
Regardless of the teacher
Regardless of the school 49 49

50. Systems & Cycle of Inquiry
HO – RTI Systems

51. Identify Universal screening
Identify students who will need intensive help before they start to fail
Common assessment data
Austin
HO – RTI Systematic Supports

52. Formulate Questions
Diagnose
Prescribe
HO – RTI Systematic Supports 52

53. Develop an Intervention Plan Implement the Plan
When Who What

54. Monitor Student Progress
There is no RTI unless we frequently check to ensure that students are “responding.”
Foundational (Universal) skills
CBMs
Essential standards (learning targets)
CFAs
Behaviors
CICO
HO – RTI Systematic Supports 54

55. Define / Revise the Hypothesis
Different experiences, expertise, and perspective
Principal Counselor Psychologist Speech therapist Special educators
English language development specialist Reading specialist Librarian Community resource officer Nurse
The importance of clinicians, early and often
HO – RTI Systematic Supports

56. Define / Revise the Hypothesis
What if Tiers 1, 2, and 3 don’t work?
Are our actions justified?
Increase intensity – frequency, duration, specificity, ratio
HO – RTI Systematic Supports 56

57. Decision Making Within Tiers
HO – Decision Making Within Tiers of Support

58. Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Special Education

59. Tier 1
Academic engagement/instruction of ALL students Multiple opportunities to respond to instruction Immediate corrective feedback Scaffolded practice of new skills Cumulative review of previously taught skills Daily minute small group supports to more homogenously groups of students based on need

60. Tier 2
More time and differentiated supports, as measured by common formative assessments
30 minute flex time
More homogeneous groupings
In smaller groups from teachers with evidenced-based success
Other staff…to reduce the teacher-student ratio
Stagger times during which each grade level has flex time

61. Tier 3
For students who have been screened to have significant deficits in foundational skills…
…or who have not responded to Tier 1 and 2 support
Intensive supports provided in addition to Tier 1 and 2 supports
As targeted as possible, e.g., phonemic awareness, single-syllable phonics, or multisyllabic phonics

62. Tier 3
Temporarily, in place of another important content, other than literacy and mathematics
Creatively scheduled
When students would otherwise be working independently
Alternating what content students miss
Adjusted to match student needs and revised until the student is adequately responding to intervention

63. RTI Model Tier 1 Academics Social Behaviors Academic Behaviors Tier 1
Academics
Social Behaviors
Academic Behaviors
Tier 1
Standards-driven maps
Framework to improve and continuously refine and improve instruction
Common formative assessments to provide the “target” and drive instruction
Schoolwide common expectations…Resp ect, Responsibility, Readiness…consiste ntly reinforced
Explicit teaching of desired behaviors
5:1 positive acknowledgments
Executive functioning and self-regulatory behaviors…Motivation, Metacognition, Monitoring
Support with short-term and long-terms academic tasks
Explicitly taught and consistently embedded within content area instruction
HO - Model RTI

64. RTI Model Tier 2 Academics Social Behaviors Academic Behaviors Tier 2
Academics
Social Behaviors
Academic Behaviors
Tier 2
Specific times, schedules, and identified personnel
More time and alternative approaches to master essentials
Evidence from common formative assessments and data analyses protocols
Simplified Functional Behavior Analyses (FBAs) define “what” and “why”
Identification and communication of strategy
Check In-Check Out to mentor and monitor
Re-teaching and more frequent reinforcement
Moderate, behavioral skill deficits

65. RTI Model Tier 3 Academics Social Behaviors Academic Behaviors Tier 3
Academics
Social Behaviors
Academic Behaviors
Tier 3
Deficits in foundational skills – and not yet responding to intervention
Intensive, 30-minute sessions in place of less-essential content
Shifts from A-week to B-week
Math – FASTT Math, Fraction Nation
Phonological Awareness – Fast ForWord, Early Reading Intervention
Phonics – Fast ForWord, REWARDS
Fluency – Reading Assistant, Six Minute Solution
Comprehension – Making Connections
Diagnosed intensive needs in specific areas – anger, trauma, etc.
Research-based interventions – Anger Coping and CBITS in small groups or individually
Diagnosed intensive needs in specific areas – motivation, self-image, etc.
Research-based approaches in attribution (Weiner) and self-efficacy (Bandura)

66. RTI Plan Academics Social Behaviors Academic Behaviors Tier 1 Tier 2
Academics
Social Behaviors
Academic Behaviors
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
HO - Model RTI Plan

67. Elementary Schedule Sample
Time
Content
8:00-10:00
ELA
10:05-10:20
Recess
10:25-11:25
Math
11:30-12:00
Special / Elective
12:05-12:40
Lunch
12:45-1:15
Social Studies
1:20-1:50
Science
1:55-2:25
Intervention / Enrichment Block 1
2:30-3:00
Intervention / Enrichment Block 2
Not pull out
HO – RTI Schedules

68. Elementary Schedule Sample
Time
Content
8:00-10:00
ELA
10:05-10:20
Recess
10:25-11:25
Math
11:30-12:00
English Language Development
12:05-12:40
Lunch
12:45-1:25
Social Studies / Science
1:30-1:50
Physical Education
1:55-2:25
Intervention / Enrichment Block 1
2:30-3:00
Special / Elective

69. Alternative Schedules – La Serna
Monday-Thursday
Period 0
6:54-7:54
Period 1
8:00-8:50
Period 2
8:56-9:50
Break
9:50-10:05
Period 3
10:11-11:01
Period 4
11:07-11:57
Lunch
11:57-12:58
Interventions
12:03-12:28
Period 5
1:04-1:54
Period 6
2:00-2:50

70. Alternative Schedules – La Serna
Friday
Collaboration
7:30-8:25
Period 1
8:30-9:18
Period 2
9:24-10:14
Break
10:14-10:29
Period 3
10:35-11:23
Period 4
11:29-12:17
Lunch
12:17-1:02
Period 5
1:08-1:56
Period 6
2:02-2:50
La Serna High School, Whittier, CA

71. Alternative Schedules – Whittier
Monday and Wednesday
Period 0
6:50-7:55
Period 1
8:00-9:40
Interventions
9:40-10:00
Break
10:00-10:10
Period 3
10:15-11:55
11:55-12:15
Lunch
12:15-12:45
Period 5
12:50-2:30
2:30-2:50

72. Alternative Schedules – Whittier
Tuesday and Thursday
Period 0
6:50-7:55
Period 2
8:00-9:40
Interventions
9:40-10:00
Break
10:00-10:10
Period 4
10:15-11:55
11:55-12:15
Lunch
12:15-12:45
Period 6
12:50-2:30
2:30-2:50

73. Alternative Schedules – Whittier
Friday
Collaboration
7:45-8:50
Period 1
9:00-9:48
Period 2
9:54-10:42
Break
10:42-10:51
Period 3
10:57-11:45
Period 4
11:51-12:39
Lunch
12:39-1:09
Period 5
1:15-2:03
Period 6
2:09-2:57
Whittier High School, Whittier, CA

74. Alternative Schedules – San Juan Hills
Monday
Period 0
6:45-7:47
Period 1
8:00-8:52
Period 2
9:02-9:54
Break
9:54-9:59
Period 3
10:09-11:01
Period 4
11:11-12:03
Lunch
12:03-12:38
Period 5
12:48-1:40
Period 6
1:50-2:42

75. Alternative Schedules – San Juan Hills
Tuesday
Collaboration
7:15-7:55
Period 2
8:05-9:45
Interventions
9:55-10:25
Break
10:25-10:30
Period 4
10:40-12:20
Lunch
12:20-12:55
Period 6
1:05-2:45

76. Alternative Schedules – San Juan Hills
Wednesday and Friday
Period 0
6:45-7:50
Period 1
8:00-9:40
Interventions
9:50-10:25
Break
10:25-10:30
Period 3
10:40-12:20
Lunch
12:20-12:55
Period 5
1:05-2:45

77. Alternative Schedules – San Juan Hills
Thursday
Period 0
6:45-7:50
Period 2
8:00-9:40
Interventions
9:50-10:25
Break
10:25-10:30
Period 4
10:40-12:20
Lunch
12:20-12:55
Period 6
1:05-2:45
San Juan Hills High School, San Juan Capistrano, CA

78. Alternative Schedules – Lynbrook
Monday and Thursday
Period 1
7:35-8:20
Period 2
8:25-9:10
Interventions
9:15-9:45
Period 3
9:50-10:40
Break
10:40-10:55
Period 4
11:00-11:45
Period 5
11:50-12:35
Lunch
12:35-1:15
Period 6
1:20-2:05
Period 7
2:10-2:55

79. Alternative Schedules – Lynbrook
Tuesday
Period 1
7:35-9:10
Period 3
9:15-10:50
Break
10:50-11:05
Period 5
11:10-12:45
Lunch
12:45-1:25
Period 7
1:30-3:05

80. Alternative Schedules – Lynbrook
Wednesday
Collaboration
7:35-9:10
Period 2
9:15-10:50
Break
10:50-11:05
Period 4
11:10-12:45
Lunch
12:45-1:25
Period 6
1:30-3:05

81. Alternative Schedules – Lynbrook
Friday
Period 1
7:35-8:25
Period 2
8:30-9:20
Period 3
9:25-10:20
Break
10:20-10:35
Period 4
11:40-11:30
Period 5
11:35-12:25
Lunch
12:25-1:05
Period 6
1:10-2:00
Period 7
2:05-2:55
Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA

82. HO – RTI Scheduling Template
Analyze Time Blocks
Identify staff and available times Schedule lunches, passing periods, and breaks Schedule Tier 2 supports Schedule Tier 3 supports Schedule common prep periods Schedule non-daily content Schedule ELA blocks Schedule mathematics blocks Schedule other content
HO – RTI Scheduling Template

83. Inventory Staff Availability
List ALL staff Instructional day in 30-minute time blocks Describe current responsibilities
HO – RTI Personnel Inventory

84. Inventory Resources Scour and glean from:
All classrooms and closets within the school
District office warehouses
Other schools in the area
In the following domains:
Phonological Awareness Phonics
Advanced Phonics Vocabulary/Comprehension
Fluency Early Numeracy
Computation Behavior

85. Reflection What ideas and practices have been confirmed and validated?
What challenges do you believe still exist?
What is an immediate next step?

86. Thank You! Chris Weber cweber_teacher@yahoo.com @Chi_educate
Chris Weber Education