Getting Familiar with RTI

There's been talk of a new player in the educational ring, and you'd do well to get yourself acquainted. If you haven't already, it's time you met RTI.

RT-what, you ask? RTI, or Response to Intervention, is all the buzz in the education world this year. And that's because it's bringing results. Good ones. The basic mantra of RTI is to monitor student response to the intervention methods you're using and then take action if students aren't responding well. While each school implements RTI in a stylized way, there are four basic components that are key to effective intervention. This month, we'll examine the first three and how Imagine Learning English meets each requirement.

1. Tiered Instruction
   Tiered instruction applies to the level of intensity devoted to the student in order to improve learning. Tier 1 refers to well-crafted classroom instruction. If students don't respond well to this, they move to Tier 2, small group instruction. Tier 3, usually individual instruction, is reserved for students who still struggle in Tier 2.Students from any category will benefit from Imagine Learning English. It’s likely that if a student from Tier 1 were to be given Imagine Learning English, the need to switch to a more intensive form of instruction might be eliminated. The type of instruction delivered by Imagine Learning English imitates that offered at Tier 3, since it is one-on-one instruction with immediate feedback and automatic differentiation of instruction.
2. Ongoing Student Assessment
   Imagine Learning English includes assessment activities embedded throughout the courseware. Students’ scores are collected and reported within two main reports: individual reports and the class summary report. Since performance is reported the instant a student completes an assessment activity, teachers can retrieve up-to-the-minute status. The class summary report allows teachers to compare student performance with the rest of the class. The individual summary report shows student placement within the courseware, their placement test scores, and their scores for skill groups. The detailed summary report lists individual skills, mastered and/or unmastered.
3. Parental Involvement
   Imagine Learning English makes it easy to communicate with parents through regular printouts written in students’ home language. Printouts itemize students’ accomplishments with reminders to practice and review important skills. Skills are listed and references to them are translated, so parents will be able to assist their child with review and practice.