- What Is the Rationale for Using RTI?
RTI is a preventive approach that aims to identify struggling students before they fall too far behind their peers. It is important to note that some students struggle with reading due to causes other than learning disabilities. Regardless of the cause, RTI will help students obtain the appropriate instruction and interventions to improve their academic progress. Additionally, by providing intervention in the early grades, RTI may also prevent the inappropriate identification of students for special education services. Think about RTI as a safety net that provides needed supports to students without first waiting for them to fail.
- What Are the Benefits of Using RTI?
The policymakers who included RTI as an option in IDEA 2004 have high hopes that RTI will:
1. Early intervening- Encourage and guide professionals to intervene early on behalf of a greater number of students who are at risk for school failure.
2. Identification of learning disabilities- Represent a more valid method of identifying learning disabilities (LD) by decreasing the number of "false positives" (low-achieving students given LD labels but whose problems are actually due to inadequate instruction rather than to disabilities).
TKES in relation to RTI-
Partnered with fidelity usage, ALL of the TKES Standards are embedded in the RTI process. Two essential Standards are listed below:
Performance Standard 3: Instructional Strategies
The teacher promotes student learning by using research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content to engage students in active learning and to facilitate the students’ acquisition of key knowledge and skills.
Performance Standard 4: Differentiated Instruction
The teacher challenges and supports each student’s learning by providing appropriate content and developing skills which address individual learning differences.
Performance Standard 3: Instructional Strategies
The teacher promotes student learning by using research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content to engage students in active learning and to facilitate the students’ acquisition of key knowledge and skills.
Performance Standard 4: Differentiated Instruction
The teacher challenges and supports each student’s learning by providing appropriate content and developing skills which address individual learning differences.