What Is a Reading Systematic Intervention?
Early detection of reading difficulty is key to effective systematic intervention. Providing students with timely, systematic intervention as soon as it is needed can prevent future academic struggles in the years ahead.
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Watch for the Signs
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Pay attention to student learning behaviors. In addition to low scores on reading-related assignments, signs of early intervention needs can show up as misbehavior, frustration with work, work avoidance, and delayed ability to grasp grade-level skills such as spelling or letter identification.
Develop a System of Identification
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Use various tools to identify students. Develop a system to identify those students who need intervention, and provide all teachers with training. A checklist with learner and reading behaviors, or rubrics with descriptors, are easy-to-administer, reliable tools.
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Monitor the System's Effectiveness
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Monitor students as they work. Consistently monitor behaviors by re-administering reading behavior checklists, rubrics, and assigning new tasks as they match the learner's ability to master new skills.
Meet and Discuss
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Hold regular team teacher meetings. Conduct regular weekly or monthly meetings with all teachers involved in the systematic interventions. Discuss student behaviors, results from tests, review student work.
Make Adjustments as Needed
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Allow for flexibility in the program. Make any needed adjustments in a student's program of systematic intervention. Review meeting notes, look at group size, class size, assignment type and amount, time-on-task, and be open to changing teachers or programs.
Maintain Careful Program Records
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Keep the records straight. Keep all material related to the student's individual program of systematic intervention--assessment records, work-generated, teacher notes, rubrics, checklists. Federal and state education law requires periodic audits of intervention programs.
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References
Resources
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