Don't Miss Out on Resources and Tips
Core Instruction
As Richard DuFour reminds us, “The fundamental purpose of school is learning, not teaching (DuFour et al., 2004, p. 2).” This perspective causes us to pause and reconsider the importance of what happens in a classroom between teacher and student. Focusing on learning and not just teaching also...
Essential Components – Assessments
When we go to the doctor, we sometimes go for a regular check-up to make sure our bodies are functioning properly, and sometimes we go to receive help for something that isn’t functioning properly or for something that is painful. We would be surprised if the doctor provided us with prescriptions...
March Implementor Spotlight
Dedicated to strengthening their district's vision “to create a culture of collaborative learning focusing on the whole child ensuring success in the global community,” Murfreesboro City Schools (MFCS) has been implementing RTI2-A + RTI2-B in three pilot schools. As a part of this process, the...
February Implementor Spotlight
A Resource Mapping Case Study Resource mapping is a crucial step during the initial stages of aligning RTI2-A and RTI2-B. For one District Leadership Team (DLT) partnering with the Tennessee TSC in East Tennessee, the process has been an incredibly eye-opening experience. Resource mapping...
Leadership
“Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals." –Author unknown In our own attempts to be good leaders, that special quality of good leadership can be elusive and difficult to define. However, we each have...
Data-Based Decision Making
Often when we think about data we think about numbers, spreadsheets, and graphs. It can sometimes be hard to get excited about numbers, spreadsheets, and graphs. But when we connect them to student outcomes and a tool to improve student trajectories, then data becomes exciting, meaningful, and...
November Implementor Spotlight
November Spotlight: Words Matter – Lebanon Special School District Lebanon Special School District created an initiative called Words Matter to help students recognize the power of their words and understand that their words make a difference. The district’s goal was to create a positive climate...
Rationale for Alignment
Experience and research tell us that academic and behavioral difficulties are often related and can co-occur. It may be unsurprising that students with academic deficits are at greater risk of developing challenging behaviors. Studies show that students identified as at risk for behavior problems...
September Implementor Spotlights
Recognizing DCAT Completion The District Capacity Assessment–Tennessee (DCAT) allows District Leadership Teams to examine district-level systems and practices necessary for effective RTI2-A + RTI2-B implementation in schools. The assessment is designed to promote self-reflection so that barriers...
Key Features and Guiding Principles of Aligned Supports
Understanding the similarities between RTI2-A and RTI2-B can help educators implement the frameworks more effectively and efficiently. Last month, we described how the alignment of leadership, assessment, data-based decision making, and instruction and intervention helps schools and districts...