What is RtI?

RtI (Response to Intervention) is an extra level of support for students in the area of reading. RtI is a researched based, systematic program that provides intensive reading support in a small group setting for 30 minutes per day, 4-5 days per week. Students are identified as candidates for RtI in the fall of each school year. All students in K5 and 1st grade are screened using FastBridge. This is an assessment tool that measures students in different areas of reading such as fluency (speed of reading), accuracy (reading correctly), identifying letters and sounds, blending and decoding words. In second–fifth grade the FastBridge assessment tool consists of three reading passages. After the initial screening, additional information such as the student's Fountas and Pinnell reading level, grades, previous support with RtI, and MAP scores are also taken into consideration to determine which children need additional literacy support. 

Within a typical RtI lesson, 4-5 students gather each day and read a leveled story with support. Students also do word work (practicing spelling patterns, high frequency words), reading strategies (ways to figure out what words say and mean, understanding what is being read), writing about reading, and more. Embedded within lessons are opportunities to practice reading out loud for fluency and expression, rereading stories to improve fluency and accuracy, discussion about stories to improve comprehension, and practice with spelling and handwriting during writing. 

Approximately every 10 lessons, students are progress monitored using FastBridge to determine how they are improving with RtI support. Mid year, typically in January, students are universally screened again (all students in K5 and first grade; current RtI students in grade 2, as well as other students of concern). The literacy  and administration team meets to determine whether students would benefit from continued support with RtI, or if they have made sufficient progress to exit the program. New students may begin RtI at this time, as well. At the end of the school year, a final screening is completed for K5-2. 

Oakview uses a variety of research based programs and/or resources (i.e. Reading Horizons, Leveled Literacy Intervention, etc.) for intervention support.