RTI

We had a quick session this afternoon while our students were at specials about RTI. Response to Intervention (RTI) provides extra time during the week for us to focus instruction on our higher needs students - those who are performing below grade level but have not been recommended in special education. Our kids have been given a baseline reading assessment and all of the students who have scored at or above grade level will be taken our of our classroom for 45 minutes, twice a week, until May. That leaves that time for us to work intensively with the smaller group of high needs students.

After we left the meeting, a lot of teachers expressed some pretty negative feelings about this time. Yes, it takes time out of our day for core instruction. BUT, that's not to say those 45 minutes can't be made up. We won't teach science and we'll combine snack and recess. It's only 2 days a week; it won't be that big of a deal.

I'm actually excited about this opportunity. We're always saying that we never have enough time to really get to our lowest learners. We should be celebrating this time! It'll be more planning and it'll upset our schedule, but I think once we get the hang of it, it will really benefit our students.

The reason that we're implementing RTI is because of the high number of referrals to special education in the higher grades. The idea is that if we make time for the lower achieving students in K and 1st grade, some students will get caught up and the others will be referred earlier to special education, allowing them to be appropriately supported through middle school

I'm just trying to be optimistic. Because, we have to do this, and being negative will only make it harder.