How to use assessment data within MTSS - with Dr. Stephanie Stollar
Nov 13, 2023
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Dr. Stephanie Stollar, with over 25 years of experience in MTSS, discusses using assessment data to evaluate tier one instruction and form small groups. She highlights common mistakes in MTSS implementation and emphasizes the importance of problem-solving skills. The podcast expresses appreciation for teachers and provides show notes and resources.
Assessment data should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of classroom reading instruction and inform differentiated small group instruction.
Instead of immediately implementing tiered interventions based on screening scores, focus on improving tier one instruction to reduce the number of students needing additional support.
Deep dives
Using Screening Data to Improve Classroom Reading Instruction
After completing a universal screener, it is essential to use the data to evaluate the effectiveness of classroom reading instruction. This involves understanding each student's current skills and needs, aligning instruction to address those needs, and ensuring a match between instruction and students' skill levels. Instead of jumping straight to tiered interventions based on screening scores, focus on reducing the number of students who need additional support by strengthening tier one instruction. This includes reflecting on the curriculum, instructional routines, materials, teacher knowledge, and grouping strategies to promote differentiated instruction and meet diverse student needs.
The Importance of Balancing Whole Group and Small Group Instruction
In a classroom where the majority of students are on track, whole group instruction can be the primary mode of delivering instruction. However, for the small number of students who are struggling, additional support in the form of tier two or tier three interventions is necessary. These interventions should be supplementary to the whole group instruction, providing pre-teaching, re-teaching, or catch-up opportunities while aligning with core instruction. It is crucial to set goals and track progress to ensure these interventions help students catch up and close the achievement gap.
Prioritizing Basic Skills in Small Group Instruction
When providing small group instruction or interventions, it is important to prioritize the lowest skill area a student has not yet mastered. By going back to fill in gaps in foundational skills, such as phonemic awareness and decoding, struggling readers can build the necessary foundation for reading comprehension. Integrating instruction across skill areas is also crucial for comprehensive learning. Progress monitoring should align with the point of instruction to accurately measure growth and inform instructional decisions.
Maximizing Resources for Differentiation and Independent Practice
In situations where teachers are the sole instructor responsible for tier one instruction and differentiation, it is important to explore available adult resources within the school community to support small group instruction. However, even in cases where there are no additional adult resources, independent and partner practice can still be valuable. When assigning independent work, ensure students are practicing skills they have already demonstrated accuracy in to build automaticity. Partner reading activities, repeated reading, and collaborative strategic reading can offer meaningful practice opportunities.
146: Dr. Stephanie Stollar has been supporting schools to use MTSS to improve reading outcomes for more than 25 years. She explains the importance of using screening data to reflect the effectiveness of Tier 1 instruction, how to use assessment data to form differentiated small groups, and how to avoid common mistakes that schools make when implementing MTSS.