2.++The+Journey+Begins...

=The Journey Begins...=

=2008-20009:= We started shifting towards a Response to Intervention model in 2008. Our Professional Learning Communities looked at students who were at risk during meeting time. We defined the criteria for at risk students at each grade level and then, at each meeting, worked to identify and strategize about each student and placing them on a Student Need Continuum. This process sort of enhanced what 9th and 10th grade teams already did during team time, but it was more onerous at the 11th and 12th grade level. This plan, while a great start, was flawed for several reasons: 1. We would do great brainstorming and strategizing about students, but the follow-up was very difficult 2. We did not have a system of strategies, so often we were stabbing in the dark. 3. It was not a very efficient way to use our time.

However, we did learn a lot about many of our students and people were able to share strategies for success sometimes. = = =2009-2010= We developed an RTI Team: Heather, Maggie, Lesley, and Cari. We developed forms for identifying students who were struggling, we started holding joint RTI and Student Service meetings to bridge the gap between academics and other issues, the RTI team spend time training on the RTI process and working to adapt it to a high school situation.

We learned a few things: -we needed to build on the great work that folks already do in their classrooms -we already have many structures in place to support RTI (teams, ac support, Roundtable, etc.), but we needed to put those structures to work for our students who were failing -attendance was a huge issue in the school (tardies and truancy) -protocols were a helpful way to talk about a student who is struggling, so we worked to adapt several of them.

This was a building year: 1. Credit Recovery started 2. Lunch Bunch was piloted (by Maggie T., Sev, Charlie, and Mark S) 3. Guided Ac Support was started during a few blocks 4. Heather and Lesley divvied up the grades to provide support with interventions 5. We worked closely with SS to develop a protocol to make our joint meetings efficient and focused 6. We developed a protocol for parent meetings and team meetings about students 7. We began Strategic Math (at the same time as Strategic Reading) 8. We tried AIMSWEB for Strategic Reading 9. We created a Notebook for RTI students to document progress and action steps 10. We started a Peer Tutoring program 11. Ninth grade and 11th grade vocabulary plans/ SAT prep put in place

=2010-2011= This year our systems were much more embedded than previously. Highlights from last year: 1. Lunch Bunch fully implemented in The Center using Ed Techs 2. Guided Ac Support in every block 3. Students on contract in The Center 4. Peer Tutors in classrooms and working individually with students 5. Attendance strategy piloted by Ray - the trigger to a meeting was a certain number of blocks missed 6. Team meetings in 9th and 10th grade were established for the year. Each team used a protocol for the meetings. Case studies of difficult/interesting students were completed. 7. Literacy planning continued with vocabulary and reading strategies for ninth grade and a more comprehensive SAT prep plan was developed. 10th grade Humanities started the vocabulary planning process. 8. The Contract for Academic Success was used consistently at parent meetings and followed up at subsequent dates. 9. Student Services and RTI Team continued to meet and share information. 10. The RTI team attended a 3-day workshop titled "A School-wide Response When Students Fail" 11. Credit Recovery continued 12. Lesley and Heather used the failure list at each progress report to determine the RTI list. 13. Strategic Math and Strategic Reading morphed to form Strategies for Learning. Students in the class receive both math and reading instruction.

=RTI fits with other school goals:=