DOMAIN C LITERATURE REVIEW- IMPORTANCE OF RTI

Literature Review:
The Importance of RTI

Courtney Burnett
TED 690
Professor Johnson

DOMAIN C LITERATURE REVIEW- IMPORTANCE OF RTI

Abstract
The following is a literature review of journals that find importance in
RTI teaching strategies. The articles provide the positive in teaching to
students in the RTI setting, with differentiated instruction. It also
provides ways to make individualized instruction better. I chose this
literature review because of the importance I place on the RTI teaching
at my own school site.

DOMAIN C LITERATURE REVIEW- IMPORTANCE OF RTI

One area that I feel would need to be apparent in an idealistic

school system, is setting up an individualized instruction for each
student. I feel like differentiation currently takes place within about
four sub-groups. School-wide, we need to see great response to
intervention rotations which alternate students around for specialized
instruction in the areas of literacy, math and English Language
Development. Those classes are grouped by students testing in the
enrichment, strategic and intensive groups. Students are getting
instruction close to their learning level. But an idealistic school system
can do more. Teachers and educators I admire, individualize
instruction as best they can. They encourage students to reach their
potential; they recognize differences; they encourage
individuality.(Ford. 2014 p.5) Thinking further regarding an RTI
education models we would need to see in an idealistic school, I read
an article written by Marjorie Lipson, from the University of Vermont.
She explained RTI models as a collaborative effort of all educators and
educating staffs. She explained that a school set up on a RTI model
must allow for much planning and coordinating between the teaching
staff. This way of teaching becomes a complete group effort to teach to
all students, and it broadens your class beyond the classroom walls.
This type of educating takes commitment on all parts of the teaching

DOMAIN C LITERATURE REVIEW- IMPORTANCE OF RTI

staff to see this model through. It was explained in the article that
students dont necessarily have to be placed in groups based on
screening and assessment, teachers and reading specialists can put
together a portfolio for each student filled with the childs need. The
article goes on to explain that the teacher is expertise and is central
instructional improvement. (Lipson, M.Y., 2011 p.373) This article
explains that with this type of intervention model, literacy has
improved. I can see how this would increase student literacy. I have
seen it in my own school. An idealistic school needs maximum time to
collaborate with colleagues to improve the model. I really like the way
this article explained the use of a student portfolio filled with items the
child may need help with. I think this would be a most effective way to
plan instruction as opposed to the method often used to place
students, which is based on an assessment, an assessment that is the
same assessment for all students and their placement.
Beyond and RTI education model, mainstream classrooms need to
incorporate individualized instruction plans for each student, not only
groups of students, if the highest level of achievement is desired to be
attained. I see one way of doing this as doing away with standard
homework packets. And use this time to improve skills that the student
needs to improve upon. Generic homework packets need to be a time

DOMAIN C LITERATURE REVIEW- IMPORTANCE OF RTI

of the past in order to efficiently utilize that time spent at home with
family members to help. Homework involves different actors
(teachers, students, and parents), serves different purposes
(enhancing student performance and self-regulation). (Kunter, M.,
Baumert, J. 2010 p.467) Homework has always been given with the
intention of increasing study time from what has been learned during
the day, but if the homework given was based on what the student is
struggling with in class, the time spent on that homework would be
more meaningful. This would also lead to a more meaningful home to
school connection between family and school. This point leads me to
my next point of connecting families to school with the strongest bond
possible.

DOMAIN C LITERATURE REVIEW- IMPORTANCE OF RTI

References
Ford, R. (2014) Individualized Instruction. Vol. 20 No.4: OECD
Publishing.
Kunter, M., Baumert, J. (2010) Homework Works if Homework Quality Is
High: Using Multilevel Modeling to Predict the Development of
Achievement in Mathematics. Journal of Educational Psychology. 102(2)
p. 467-482.
Lipson, M.Y. (2011) The Reading Teacher: Ask the Expert. Vol. 64 No. 5:
Wiley.