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This is the final blog in the series exploring high-leverage instructional strategies to strengthen Tier 1 instruction. The first blog focused on setting the stage for success before instruction. The second blog explored strategies for delivering engaging, accessible, and effective instruction. This final blog examines how teachers can use what they learn during Tier 1 […]
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This is the second blog in a series focusing on strategies teachers can use DURING instruction to actively engage students, facilitate meaning-making, and create more dynamic and responsive learning experiences. The first blog in the series, “MTSS: Setting the Stage for Strong Tier 1 Instruction,“ can help teachers prepare for effective Tier 1, so check […]
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This is the first blog in a series that explores high-leverage instructional practices that can enhance Tier 1 instruction, helping teachers design more accessible, inclusive, and equitable learning experiences. Each blog will focus on a different phase of lesson design—before, during, and after instruction—providing concrete strategies that can be applied, whether you are building a […]
In my previous blogs on MTSS, I have provided an overview of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports as it relates to instruction. I’ve highlighted how differentiated small group instruction can improve the effectiveness of Tier 1 instruction, reducing the need for Tier 2 support and Tier 3 intervention. I have also presented strategies teachers can […]
Every teacher has faced a similar challenge: delivering a whole-group lesson to the entire class and watching the mixed reactions on the students’ faces. Some grasp the concept immediately, while others struggle to comprehend it and clearly need additional support. Approximately 20% of students in a classroom will need more than Tier 1 core instruction […]
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is an instructional framework that uses assessment data to identify and address students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. It provides targeted instruction, scaffolds, and support at varying levels of intensity to ensure all students receive an equitable learning experience and can make progress toward clear, standards-aligned goals (California Department of […]
An increasing number of schools nationwide are shifting to more inclusive instruction, keeping students with special needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), and diverse learning profiles in mainstream classrooms. This shift toward inclusive classrooms is driven, in part, by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that requires public schools to provide students […]
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“Technology is a distraction.”“It just makes my job harder.”“My students can’t focus when they’re online.” I hear comments like these in almost every professional learning session involving technology. I don’t think teachers are frustrated with technology itself. They’re frustrated with the way it’s being used, especially when it fails to create meaningful or engaging learning. […]
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Podcast Episode Episode Description In this episode of The Balance, I sit down with Ruba Abi Saab, Instructional Coach and Teaching and Learning Coordinator at Al Rayan International School in Accra, Ghana. Ruba shares how concept-based inquiry shapes her work with teachers and students, encouraging deeper thinking, empathy, and purposeful action. We talk about her […]
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Facilitating meaningful discussion in a physical classroom is challenging enough. For educators working partially or entirely online, engaging students in academic discourse can feel exponentially more difficult. During online and remote learning, students may be tempted to turn off cameras, feel disconnected from peers, or experience feelings of isolation as they learn from home. Despite […]
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Related Podcast Episode It was finals week, and my daughter was multitasking like a pro—eating breakfast, doing her hair, and getting ready for the day, all while paying rapt attention to something she was listening to on her phone. Curious, I asked, “What are you listening to?” She looked up and casually replied, “It’s for […]
Are you tired of lessons that aren’t working? Do you feel like you’re pouring time and energy into planning only to face disengaged students, inconsistent progress, and widening learning gaps? Are you struggling to differentiate learning experiences and respond to individual student needs? Time is the Biggest Barrier In my work with teachers, the biggest […]