MTSS Dictionary

MTSS Dictionary

• Accommodation: Accommodations are practices and procedures that provide equitable instruction and assessment access for students to the general education curriculum. The intent is not to invalidate the score or reduce learning expectations, but to simply level the playing field. Accommodation categories are: Presentation ( allow students access to information in ways that do not require them to read standard print visually, such as auditory, multi-sensory, tactile); Response ( allow students to complete assessments in different ways, or to solve or organize problems using assistive devices or organizers); Setting (change the location in which a test or assignment is given or the conditions of the assessment setting); or Timing/Scheduling (increase the allowable time to complete a test or assignment or change the way test time is organized).
• Differentiated instruction: To differentiate instruction is to recognize students' varying background knowledge, readiness, language, preferences in learning and interests; and to react responsively. Differentiated instruction is a process to teaching and learning for students of differing abilities in the same class. The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximize each student's growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is and assisting in the learning process. This includes differentiation of the: process (instructional activities designed to help students make sense of the content) product (student outcomes, or vehicle through which a student shows what he understands and can do as a result of learning) and content (the 'what and how' students will learn, e.g., facts, concepts, principles, skills).
• Intervention: Instructional interventions allow for enhanced performance of academic tasks, while behavioral interventions provide modeling and instruction in positive behavioral interactions. An instructional intervention is a planned set of procedures aimed at teaching a specific set of academic or social skills. Interventions are sustained over time and goal-oriented, intended to produce a change in knowledge or behavior. Students typically start at a baseline and are working toward increasing toward a targeted goal.
• Modification: Modifications refer to changes made to curriculum expectations in order to meet the needs of the student. Modifications are made when the expectations are beyond the student's level of ability. Modifications may be minimal or very complex depending on the student performance.
• Universal Screener: A universal screener is a type of assessment that is characterized by the administration of quick, research-based, repeatable testing of age-appropriate skills. These tests are used to establish an academic or behavioral baseline and to identify learners who need additional support. Instructional decisions can then be made based on the screening results to improve learner outcomes. Universal screening is the key to a prevention model, helping classroom teachers to differentiate their instruction and/or provide early intervening services so that students can be assisted before they fall too far behind.