RtI for ELLs

Considerations for Success with Diverse Learners

Objectives

• Content Objective:– Participants will be able to demonstrate

knowledge of the RtI process for ELL’s by identifying specific interventions for Tiers One, Two and Three.

• Language Objective:– Participants will be able to explain and plan

instructional approaches to accommodate instruction for ELLs at various levels of intervention using the RtI process.

Critical Factors

Language Proficiency Levels• Beginning ELL• Intermediate ELL• Advanced ELL• Advanced High ELL• English Proficient

Academic Background• Student with Interrupted

Formal Education (SIFE)• Limited Academic

Background Knowledge• Standard Academic

Background Knowledge• Extensive Academic

Background Knowledge

RtI: A Multi-tier Model

RtI is a Problem Solving ProcessWhat is the child’s area of need?

Why is ithappening?

What should be done about it?

Did the interventionwork?

RtI

• To help educators determine if the ELL’s academic problems stem from an issue with acquisition of the English language or a true academic disability.

Considerations

• Language proficiency in both the native and English

• Student’s specific needs• Research-based interventions

RtI and Special Education?

• It should not be considered a pathway to Special Education.

It should be used as a vital tool in the

documentation that informs the decision

making process.

The RtI Process1. Universal Screening: Involves using instruments

for school-wide screening2. Progress Monitoring: Uses data to identify

students with poor learning outcomes3. Tiered Instruction/Intervention System: Provides

evidence-based interventions4. Data-based Decision Making: Adjusts

interventions based on responsiveness5. Fidelity of Implementation: Ensures that all

decisions are informed by process monitoring data

Universal Screening

• Choose the instrument to be used for school-wide screening.

• Decide when during the year the screening will occur.

• Create a team to review data and determine who needs interventions.

• Set a “cut” score that will indicate the need for intervention.

Universal Screening

Universal Screening

Universal Screening Checklist

Considerations:Processes

Interventions Individual student needs

Progress Monitoring

• Identify students who are failing to meet benchmarks.

• Monitor interventions through formal and informal assessments.

• Understand that ELLs may have oral fluency, but not have comprehension.

Tiered Instruction

• Students move through tiers (usually 3).• Each successive tier involves smaller groups of

students, is more intensive, and involves greater amounts of time.

Data-Based Decision Making

• Use the data from on-going assessments to plan instruction.

• Perform the instruction.• Use the data to make decisions involving time

and resources.

Fidelity of Instruction

• Ensure integrity of screening and progress monitoring.

• Deliver instruction according to the design of the selected intervention.

• Ensure that appropriate materials are available.

• Graph and monitor results.• Ensure all decisions are informed by progress

monitoring data.

RtI for ELLs

• Needs to consider language acquisition• Needs to consider cultural background• Needs to consider language proficiency and

literacy in both the native language and English

• Needs to include interventions which focus on the ELL’s specific needs

Moving through The RtI Process for ELLs

ACOMMODATIONS BY PROFICIENCY LEVELS

Tier OneThe goal is..• To create an effective program of literacy instruction

that includes specific strategies to promote success for ELLs

• How can this be done?– Implement Sheltered Instruction (SIOP) as Whole-

Class Tier One support– focusing on…Social and academic language development Differentiated instruction

Listening/Speaking *Using Sentence Stems and

Paragraph Frames

One thing ELLs need to achieve success is…

In my classroom, I am using ___to help my students be successful.

Progress Monitoring• For all students

• Quick Reads• Running records• DIBELS• Edcheckup

• For ELLs

• AimSweb• Spanish EDL• Spanish PAPI

• What else do you use?• Informal Observations

Additional Strategies for Tier 1

Listening/SpeakingTaped Text

• Expert/Novice• Think Alouds• List Stressed Words• Oral Scaffolding• Reading

Adapted Text• Concept Attainment• Cognates• Writing

Word Analysis: Homophone/homograph sort• Sentence Sort• Cognates

Reading/Writing - KIDS

Key word, Important Information, Drawing to Remember, Sentence

Writing – Word Analysis

Use riddles: The Dove Dove or Eight Ate by Marvin Terban.

• Homographs: wind/wind, wound/wound, bow/bow

• Homophones: their/there, see/sea

Tier Two…What next?

Goal is..• To establish individually targeted interventions for

students not responding to Tier One research-based literacy instruction and progress monitoring.

• What to consider– Students falling behind on benchmarks.– Students struggling with the development of the

second language.

Tier Two for All Students

• Typically lasts 10-14 weeks• Group size is 3-8 students• Multisensory instruction• Progress is monitored every two weeks• Data is recorded and compared to same age

peers• Rate of improvement is tracked

Tier Two for ELLS

• Consider English language development and use specific second language intervention strategies

• Begin reading interventions• Plan small group instruction

• What are the unique needs of ELLs at this stage of the RtI Process?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of your Tier Two process?

RtI… Caution!

One size does not fit all. Be careful when comparing results on Curriculum Based Measures(CBMs) for all students the same way.

Don’t compare:

– ELLs and non ELLs at the same grade level– ELLs and other ELLs who speak different languages– ELLs and other ELLs who speak the same language

from different socioeconomic/cultural backgrounds

Tier Three

Goal is..• To establish intensive individual instruction for

students not progressing with Tier Two interventions.

• What to consider– Criteria for identifying students who are continuing to fall

behind on CBM and/or benchmarks that assess language and literacy

Tier Three for All Students– Establish criteria for identifying students who are

continuing to fall behind.– Develop an individualized plan including one-on-one

instruction with the support of literacy and or ELL specialist.

– Collaborate with a team to gather data specific to the student in order to make an appropriate analysis of gaps in learning and conditions necessary for the learner to be successful .

– Notify parents of the possibility of a referral for special education evaluation.

Table Talk

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of your current RtI process?– A strength of our current RtI process is ____

because…– A weakness of our current RtI process is

____ because…

Wrap-up…What is the same? What is different?

Ticket Out

• This session…

• I will…