What is quality Tier 1 Instruction?
Under MTSS, quality Tier 1 instruction refers to the core teaching that all students receive in the general education classroom. This level of instruction is foundational and should be robust enough to meet the needs of the majority of students, typically around 80-90% of the student population, without the need for additional support or intervention.
Key Characteristics:
Standards-Aligned Curriculum
The curriculum is aligned with state or national standards, ensuring that all students have access to rigorous and relevant content.
Evidence-Based Practices
Instructional strategies and methods are grounded in research and proven to be effective. These practices are used consistently across the classroom.
Differentiation
Teachers adjust instruction to accommodate the diverse learning needs, styles, and paces of students. This might include offering different levels of support, varying tasks, or providing choices in how students demonstrate understanding.
High Expectations
Teachers hold all students to high academic and behavioral expectations, fostering a culture of achievement and growth.
Engagement
Lessons are designed to be engaging and relevant, capturing students' interests and motivating them to participate actively in their learning.
Formative Assessment
Ongoing assessments are used to monitor student progress, provide feedback, and adjust instruction as needed. This helps ensure that all students are making adequate progress.
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Instruction is inclusive and responsive to the cultural backgrounds of students, ensuring that all students feel valued and understood in the learning environment.
Effective Classroom Management
The classroom environment is structured to minimize disruptions and maximize learning time. Clear expectations, routines, and procedures are established and consistently enforced.
Collaboration and Professional Development
Teachers collaborate with colleagues to share best practices and participate in ongoing professional development to continuously improve their instructional practices.
Use of Technology
Technology is integrated effectively to enhance instruction and provide additional resources for students. This might include interactive tools, online resources, or adaptive learning programs.
By providing quality Tier 1 instruction to all students, teachers can monitor and assess students who may need the additional supports that are found in Tier 2 of the MTSS umbrella.
