Overview of RTI Masters Project

Department of Special Education

Portland State University

Overview of RTI ProjectSelecting an area of interestSample data from practiceNext steps

RTI Masters Project

Overview RTI & Reading• Work with Dr. Amanda Sanford

and Dr. Julie Esparza Brown• Target students with reading

IEPs and English Learners in the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework

• Assess and diagnos students’ instructional needs

• Develop and implement a targeted reading support plan

• Develop expertise as RTI team leader

Courses offered in winter and spring, with an option to begin lit review in summer or fall

Select from the team options provided or brainstorm with a team about additional optionsEarly in the process (winter term or before), you

will complete an IRB application, literature review, and write the method of the project with teamDuring winter and spring terms you will collect

your data, analyze the data, and write up the results with your team

Overview RTI Masters Project

RTI & Els (in collaboration with Dr. Brown)

• Conduct literature review on what works for RTI with English learners

• Design and implement a single subject research study with your team– Multiple Baseline– Alternating Treatment– Reversal

• Implement the intervention with your students and measure outcome

RTI & tech tools (in collaboration with Dr. Sennott)

• Conduct literature review on effective instructional design principles for content area

• Create a tool to evaluate the presence of effective instructional design principles

• Identify technology tools, family resources, student resources and evaluate them for the presence of design elements

Selecting an area of interest

Research questionsLiterature reviewParticipants in school interventionSchool based intervention design & resultsLimitationsNext steps

Sample data from practice

Can PLUSS instructional adaptations be implemented in a typical school setting?

What are the effects of adding the PLUSS instructional modifications to an evidence-based reading intervention for English learners who are identified as needing additional support in reading on reading

Research questions

English Learners (ELs) in public schools rose from 4.7 to 11.2 million between 1980 and 2009 (NCES, 2011)

Significant gap between performance on ELs and non-El students in reading (NAEP, 2010)

4th grade: 36 point gap 8th grade: 47 point gap 12th grade: 50 point gap

Literature review

ELs face dual cognitive load of learning language and content (Goldenburg, 2008)

Currently we have interventions for ELs (SIOP, SDAIE) in general

educationResearch based interventions for students struggling

in reading

There is a gap in research to practice in systematically applying what works for ELs who also have disabilities or struggle with reading

Literature review

PLUSS is a model designed to overlay research based interventions to address the unique instructional needs of ELs (Sanford, Brown, and Turner, 2013)

PLUSS stands forPre-teaching language, vocabulary, and priming

background knowledgeLanguage use and modelingUsing visuals and graphic organizersSystematic and Explicit instructionStrategic use of native language and teaching for

transfer

Literature review

Permission from parents granted to use this information for educational purposes (but not research purposes at this point)

Utilized a single subject reversal design2 students who were English Learners and

also needed additional support in readingRosa: 2nd grade, 7 year old female who spoke

Spanish, English, and MandarinDorotea: 3rd grade, 8 year old female who

spoke Spanish, English, and Mandarin

Participants from intervention

Results of school-based intervention

Research based

interventionResearch

based intervention

including PLUSS

Research based

intervention

Rosa

Results of school-based intervention

Research based

intervention

Research based

intervention including

PLUSS

Research based

intervention

RosaResearch

based intervention

including PLUSS

Results of school-based intervention

Research based

intervention

Research based

intervention including

PLUSS

Research based

intervention

Dorotea

Results of school-based intervention

Research based

intervention

Research based

intervention including

PLUSS

Research based

intervention

Dorotea

Percent Accuracy

Words Read Correctly per Minute

Errors

Research based

intervention including

PLUSS

Conducting a more rigorous research study may allow data to be published and used to inform the field

The following would strengthen study and conclusions that could be drawn

More data points in each phaseFidelity measure that involve an independent

observerIndependence of participants so intervention could

be adjusted based on unique individual needsInterobserver agreement procedure

Limitations

This study could be strengthened with YOUR help!Notify me of your interest in either research studyBegin literature review including readings on one

of the following: ELs

Effective instruction for English LearnersSingle subject research design

ORTech tools and resources and effective instructional

design princples

Next steps

Identify area of interest in the projectCommunicate with me your area of

interest and I can provide some support in guiding your literature review

Conduct a literature review as part of your 596 coursework

Connect with me or Dr. Loman with any questions (asanford@pdx.edu)

RTI Masters Project Next Steps

Remember: You Need to Choose and Apply to Join a Masters

Project Group • The SPED 597 course and the SPED 506 course

are taught by same faculty member focused on a topic and project.

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How to Apply for These Projects

1.Complete application describing yourProject preference and interestQualifications and skillsCurrent occupation and access to schools

2.Register for and take SPED 596: Research in Special Education (3 cr) in Summer 2014: Session 1 (81269) or Session 2 (81270)

• You can serve individuals with a diverse set of disabilities: autism, communication disorders, physical disabilities, learning disabilities

• You will combine new technology and effective practice to create positive results

• Discover important principles of technology integration

Technology and Education

Dr. Samuel Sennott