This course will encourage the educator to evaluate the challenges facing struggling students in regards to the rigor of the common core standards.  The educator will learn how to use several tools for interventions and instruction to support the needs of struggling students. These tools include how to effectively teach using: background knowledge, research-based vocabulary instruction, a step-by-step approach to scaffolding instruction, and constructive and purposeful feedback.  Educators will also learn how to use multiple approaches for differentiating instruction and how to use key elements of effective instruction to have a greater impact on Tier I interventions and instruction. Finally, educators will gain an understanding of what can be done at the district and building level to impact learning for struggling students and unify learning for all students.

At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Determine what schools and teachers can do to better serve struggling students, InTASC 4
• Use background knowledge and enriching experiences to level the playing field for struggling students, InTASC 2, 5
• Effectively use classroom interventions for all students, InTASC 8
• Encourage our learners to have a growth mindset and be self-directed learners, InTASC 3
• Use feedback to effectively impact the growth of struggling students in our classrooms, InTASC, 6
• Use a step-by-step model of scaffolding instruction to support struggling learners, InTASC 7, 8
• Effectively use a variety of research-based vocabulary strategies to support all students, InTASC 2
• Understand the importance of differentiated instruction, InTASC 8
• Use multiple approaches for providing differentiated instruction for struggling learners, especially at the secondary level, InTASC 8, 9
• Understand the key elements of effective instruction to provide highly effective Tier 1 instruction, InTASC 8, 9
• Build a lesson plan to utilize the key elements of effective instruction, InTASC 5, 8
• Gain an understanding of what can be done at the district and building level to effectively support struggling students, InTASC 10