RtI, or according to Connie Maxson, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, “Really Terrific Instruction” has been an education buzzword for a while. But what does it mean for students and teachers? RtI, AKA Response to Intervention, is one of the key components of the Iowa Core.
What are the GPAEA Literacy Specialists doing to get ready for RtI?
Quality Universal instruction for all students, based on the Iowa Core Standards, is the foundation of RtI. Districts that are currently working on the Gradual Release of Responsibility are focused on quality instruction. The goal is for quality universal instruction to be effective for 80% or more of the students in the building. Once the Core is aligned with and taught to all students, interventions may be considered for students who are not making adequate progress. The focus of the GPAEA literacy interventions is to match the state as materials are developed appropriate for students and teachers in the effort to accelerate learning.
A “Moodle” has been developed that covers the K-5 Foundation Skills in the Iowa Core:
- Concepts of Print
- Phonological Awareness and Word
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
These skills are in addition to the numerous literacy standards for every grade level in reading literature, reading informational text, writing, speaking, and listening. For those districts/buildings that participated in Reading First, these are not the exact same skill areas. Reading First required Scientifically Based Reading Research at the “gold standard” level. We are organizing materials that have been proven for increased student learning in these foundation areas.
When will this Moodle be available for use?
The GPAEA Reading Content team will view and interact with the Moodle at their May meeting. The Department of Education will announce a universal screener in June and a progress monitoring tool soon after. Because the intent is to not only to be aligned but also to complement the DE work as much as possible, some revisions may be needed after the DE provides that assessment information. The plan will be to open up access to GPAEA staff working side-by-side with LEA staff during the fall of 2012.
Author:
Fran McVeigh
Reading Specialist
Fran.mcveigh@gpaea.org
641-932-5003 ext. 5817
