TEDX1896X - Response to Intervention: Practical Information for the Classroom Teacher
Course Description
As educators, you have probably heard the term RTI, or Response to Intervention. RTI is a process that schools can and should use to help students who are struggling with academics or behavior. Even though RTI is primarily linked to special education and the early identification of learning problems, RTI is not just for students in special education. RTI is for all students and is based on the premise that a student might be struggling because of instruction or the curriculum in either a past or a current classroom. Every teacher will have students who are struggling, and RTI is a valuable tool for easing that struggle. So welcome to the class on Response to Intervention, where you will learn what RTI is and how to use it in your classroom.
View Response to Intervention: Practical Information for the Classroom Teacher syllabus for additional information.
Key Benefits
- 100% online self-paced course.
- No prior experience required.
- No textbooks and other materials required for purchase.
Learning Modules Include
- Chapter 1: RTI Tiers
- In this first section of the course, we will look at the history of RTI or Response to Intervention so that you’ll understand the significance of this process. We will also look at what RTI is, the three tiers of a typical RTI, the essential elements of RTI, two basic models, how to talk with families about RTI, and the benefits of RTI. Your goal, or objective, for this section is to be able to explain what a Response to Intervention is and why it is used.
- Chapter 2: RTI Tier 1
- Response to Intervention (RTI) is a valuable tool for all teachers, at all levels, to ensure that students are receiving the instruction they need to be successful in the classroom. In the RTI approach, struggling students’ skills and behavior are monitored to determine whether they show adequate growth—referred to as responsiveness—following the implementation of high-quality instruction. Students who do not respond adequately to research-validated instruction in the general education classroom are provided with increasingly intensive interventions. Students’ progress in skill areas of concern is monitored frequently (e.g., weekly), and the data collected inform subsequent decisions about whether a student is either appropriately responsive or needs still more intensive instruction. Although RTI is used primarily to enhance academics, which will be the primary focus of this course, RTI is also used for behavior. Response to Intervention starts with universal screening and is typically implemented in three tiers. Tier 1 is the focus of this section of the course. Tier 1 relies heavily on the classroom teacher, and the goal is to ensure that the needs of at least 80% of the students are met before implementing Tier 2.
- Chapter 3: RTI Tier 2
- Greulich et al. (2014) found that the need for flexibility when using RTI starts in Tier 1; they advocate for rapidly moving students who are persistently inadequate responders in Tier 1 to Tier 2, where they will receive more intensive interventions. Tier 2 is the focus of this section of the course, which also describes using the RTI process with Gifted and Talented students and in grade levels above elementary school. Understanding how the process works with Gifted and Talented and in the middle and high school levels is critical for a complete understanding of RTI.
- Chapter 4: RTI Tier 3
- All Tiers include high-quality instruction, frequent progress monitoring, and data-based decision making. Together, these elements create a strong instructional foundation for all students: Struggling students receive the additional instructional support they need to catch up with their peers and to succeed in the general education classroom, and students with specific learning disabilities can be identified in the early grades. If it’s to be successful, the RTI approach must be implemented in a context of shared responsibility and increased accountability for student learning. These goals can be achieved through greater collaboration among school leaders, teachers, and parents. In particular, the success of RTI depends on the ability of general educators and special educators to work closely together. Tier 3 is considered a level of tertiary or intensive individualized intervention. Students whose progress is still insufficient in Tier 2 receive even more intensive and individualized instruction. Such instruction is provided through special education services. Tier 3 is the focus of this section of the course.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Implement a systematic process, RTI, to ensure that every child learns
- Review and explain the history of response to intervention in education
- List, define and discuss the Tiers of Response to Intervention
- List and discuss the essential elements for each RTI Tier
- Analyze The various RTI models that are currently available for educators
- Discuss how to apply the RTI process in a classroom setting
- Identify some of the main barriers that might prevent the use of RTI
- Define and explain universal design as it applies to RTI
- Compare and contrast formative/summative assessments
- List and define types of High-Quality Instruction
- Understand and explain methods of RTI progress monitoring
- Describe how gifted & talented students might be fit into an RTI system
- Discuss some of the adaptations that must be considered for EEL students in an RTI system
- Differentiate between the various methods to collect and analyze program data
Requirements to Enroll
No application is needed to enroll. All learners are eligible to enroll in the course. There are no admission requirements. It is recommended that learners have a high school diploma or GED, and have basic computer and internet knowledge.
Semester Open-Enrollment Schedule:
- Spring = January - April
- Summer = May - August
- Fall = September - December
*Please note that students are only allowed to register max 5 TEDX courses per semester period*
Estimated Time to Completion
This course can be completed in approximately 40 hours of asynchronous work.
Access Time
Learners will have access to their course learning modules for up to 365 days from the date of enrollment.
CEUs and PDUs
- CEUs 4.0 National University Continuing Education Units
Certificate of Completion
Learners will be awarded a National University Workforce and Community Education, Professional and Continuing Education Certificate of Completion after satisfying the course requirements below:
- Complete all four information sections showing a competent understanding of the material presented in each section.
- Complete all four section examinations, showing a competent understanding of the material presented. You must obtain an overall score of 70% or higher, with no individual exam score below 50%, to pass this course. *Please note: Minimum exam score requirements may vary by college or university; therefore, you should refer to your course addendum to determine what your minimum exam score requirements are.
- Complete a review of any section on which your examination score was below 50%.
- Retake any examination, after completing an information review, to increase that examination score to a minimum of 50%, making sure to also be achieving an overall exam score of a minimum 70% (maximum of three attempts). *Please note: Minimum exam score requirements may vary by college or university; therefore, you should refer to your course addendum to determine what your minimum exam score requirements are.
- Complete a course evaluation form at the end of the course.
Refund Policy
We at National University want all of our students to have a positive and rewarding learning experience. In the event that a student is not completely satisfied with a course, we offer a refund policy to ensure satisfaction.
To be eligible for a refund, the student must submit a written request, including a valid reason, within 9 calendar days of registering for the course. Additionally, the student must not have attempted more than 25% of the course.
To request a refund, email PACE@nu.edu and include your full name, student ID, and course name. Your reason for requesting a refund will be carefully reviewed, and we reserve the right to refuse a refund if we determine the request to be invalid.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for a refund, we will issue a refund to your original method of payment within 60 days of the refund approval.