In ever increasing numbers, K-5 schools are implementing an intervention period as a significant portion of the school day. During a defined time each day, classroom teachers and available resource personnel provide remediation, enrichment, and acceleration opportunities to students.
Features of an Intervention Period
- Students may receive remediation, enrichment, or acceleration in a specific content area.
- Placements are on an individualized basis, including students with an IEP or ELL students receiving assistance with learning the English language.
- Special Education students typically receive assistance from Special Education teachers to accomplish IEP goals. In the case of co-taught students, the general education teacher may assist with remediation.
- Ideally, Special Education students will be placed in the least restrictive environment. IEP goals can be provided in the intervention period rather than in place of art, music, or physical education.
- With effective use of common planning time, specific needs of students can be identified, and strategies can be implemented in the intervention period to respond to those needs.
- During common planning time, teachers have an opportunity to collaborate on curriculum analysis and delivery.
- Students from all sections of a grade level can be regrouped accordingly.
- In smaller groups, classroom teachers and resource personnel can focus on why a student is having difficulty with a skill or concept.
- Large group instructional strategies can be employed during enrichment sessions.
- Enrichment sessions can be planned to supplement regular units of instruction.
- As an outcome of operating the intervention period, classroom teachers may assess the Tier II aspect of RtI or MTSS, expand the scope of Tier I and learn more about students’ learning styles.
Building a Master Schedule to Implement the Intervention Period
Phase I
Step I
Create a grid with columns for each grade, each section in that grade and each period or module of time. In most cases, 9 or 10 modules are utilized.
Step II
After vertically listing the teaching sections, list the specials teachers as well as resource personnel who may be available to assist with the intervention program.
Step III
Based on the capacity of the cafeteria, indicate the number of classes to be at lunch (L) or lunch/recess (L/R) within a given module.
Step IV
Each class within the grade should have specials and intervention at the same times. Common planning occurs during the specials period. All sections of a grade should have lunch or lunch/recess at the same time.
Phase I Grid:
Grade | Section | Mod 1 | Mod 2 | Mod 3 | Mod 4 | Mod 5 | Mod 6 | Mod 7 | Mod 8 | Mod 9 |
K | 01 | I | L | S | ||||||
02 | I | L | S | |||||||
03 | I | L | S | |||||||
1 | 01 | L | S | I | ||||||
02 | L | S | I | |||||||
03 | L | S | I | |||||||
2 | 01 | S | L | I | ||||||
02 | S | L | I | |||||||
03 | S | L | I | |||||||
3 | 01 | S | L | I | ||||||
02 | S | L | I | |||||||
03 | S | L | I | |||||||
4 | 01 | I | L | S | ||||||
02 | I | L | S | |||||||
03 | I | L | S | |||||||
5 | 01 | S | L | I | ||||||
02 | S | L | I | |||||||
03 | S | L | I | |||||||
Specials | Art | 5 | Plan | 2 | 3 | 1 | L | K | Plan | 4 |
Music | 5 | Plan | 2 | 3 | 1 | L | K | Plan | 4 | |
Phys. Ed. | 5 | Plan | 2 | 3 | 1 | L | K | Plan | 4 | |
Interventionists | ELL | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Sp. Ed. | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
Reading | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
Math | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Step V
Concurrent with placing Specials and Intervention on the grid for each grade, summarize the actual schedule for Specials teachers and the Intervention team. Note that Specials teachers and interventionists have a common planning time in the example provided.
Step VI
In placing Specials and Intervention on the grid, consider the attention span of students. Create the opportunity for blocks of time for Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics.
Phase II
Step I
As a prerequisite to detailing the specific schedule for each grade, develop a curriculum chart indicating the number of minutes per day for each content area.
Following is an example:
Curriculum Chart | ||||||
Curriculum Area | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Reading/Language Arts | 120 | 110 | 100 | 90 | 85 | 85 |
Mathematics | 70 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 85 | 85 |
Social Studies | 30 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 | 40 |
Science | 30 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 | 40 |
Specials | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Total Minutes | 290 | 290 | 290 | 290 | 290 | 290 |
Social/emotional learning could be integrated into content areas.
Step II
Complete the grid for each grade.
Step III
Assess the placement of specials, lunch and intervention in terms of extended time modules for Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics. Alter earlier decisions, if necessary.
Step IV
In light of state and national testing programs, consider subject matter specialization in grades 4 and 5. In the example, grade 5 teachers operate as a three-person team with each teaching specific subjects to each section. One teaches ELA to the three sections; a second teacher is responsible for math for all three sections; the third teacher instructs social studies and science for all three sections.
Phase II Grid:
Grade | Section | Mod 1 | Mod 2 | Mod 3 | Mod 4 | Mod 5 | Mod 6 | Mod 7 | Mod 8 | Mod 9 |
K | 01 | R/LA | I | L | Math | S | R/LA | SS/Sc | ||
02 | R/LA | I | L | Math | S | R/LA | SS/Sc | |||
03 | R/LA | I | L | Math | S | R/LA | SS/Sc | |||
1 | 01 | R/LA | L | S | Math | SS/Sc | I | |||
02 | R/LA | L | S | Math | SS/Sc | I | ||||
03 | R/LA | L | S | Math | SS/Sc | I | ||||
2 | 01 | Math | S | R/LA | L | R/LA | I | SS/Sc | ||
02 | Math | S | R/LA | L | R/LA | I | SS/Sc | |||
03 | Math | S | R/LA | L | R/LA | I | SS/Sc | |||
3 | 01 | R/LA | SS | S | L | I | Math | Sc | ||
02 | R/LA | SS | S | L | I | Math | Sc | |||
03 | R/LA | SS | S | L | I | Math | Sc | |||
4 | 01 | SS | R/LA | I | Sc | L | Math | S | ||
02 | SS | R/LA | I | Sc | L | Math | S | |||
03 | SS | R/LA | I | Sc | L | Math | S | |||
5 R/LA | 01 | S | Section 01 | Section 03 | L | I | Section 02 | |||
Math | 02 | S | Section 02 | Section 01 | L | I | Section 03 | |||
SS/Sc | 03 | S | Section 03 | Section 02 | L | I | Section 01 | |||
Specials | Art | 5 | Plan | 2 | 3 | 1 | L | K | Plan | 4 |
Music | 5 | Plan | 2 | 3 | 1 | L | K | Plan | 4 | |
Phys. Ed. | 5 | Plan | 2 | 3 | 1 | L | K | Plan | 4 | |
Interventionists | ELL | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Sp. Ed. | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
Reading | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
Math | Plan | Plan | K | 4 | L | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Tips for Implementing/Sustaining the Intervention Period
- Be sure the schedule provides common planning time for all teachers of a grade level.
- The success of the intervention program is in the hands of classroom teachers who should demonstrate that they “own” the program.
- Recognize the potential of the intervention program to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.
- Recognize the relationship between the intervention program and the daily instructional program. Any student may need support in any content area at any time.
- Fluidity and flexibility are keys to the success of the program. Student assignments for intervention may change on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis.
- Overall, a balance should exist between the focus on the remedial, enrichment, and acceleration aspects of the program. In some cases, students could work on an independent study program.
- Professional development is essential to the success of the intervention program. Portions of the training for teachers should include recognizing students’ strengths and weaknesses; strategies for small group instruction, including why a student does not master a skill or concept; interpreting available data; designing meaningful enrichment experiences; monitoring independent study projects and connecting Special Education and ELL programs to daily instruction.
- Periodically take time to evaluate all aspects of the intervention program. Adjustments can be made as needed.
Summary
Within the master schedule, a defined time for intervention should be established. The opportunity for flexibility and fluidity are essential components of the organizational plan. Remedial support and opportunities for enrichment and acceleration are an extension of the teaching/learning process.