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00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Welcome to your Morning Boost, your daily leadership advice to help you lead your school community.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 Brought to you by AWB Education and sponsored by Grundmeyer Leader Services,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:14 where together we are transforming education, one leader at a time.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 Now here's your host, Adam Bush.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:21 Hello, leaders. Happy Friday. Welcome to your final Morning Boost of the week.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 Thanks for joining us all week.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 We are going to wrap up our MTSS talk this week as we talk about creating a
00:00:27 --> 00:00:31 system that works to put all of these MTSS components together.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:36 Now, you may notice that I skipped Tier 3, and frankly, I did that on purpose.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:41 Many schools, this is an area that we've spent a lot of time and energy on developing over the years.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:46 We've got really strong Tier 3 programs, and frankly, that's why sometimes we
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 kind of skip straight to Tier 3, because we know how good our programs are,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 and we know that this is a great opportunity for our students to get support.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:59 The problem is, by skipping straight to Tier 3, we're overloading our system,
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 and that typical pyramid that's
00:01:01 --> 00:01:05 used to describe MTSS starts to look a little bit more like a square.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:10 And so it's important for us to really strengthen the areas before we get to Tier 3.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 So today we're going to talk about building that MTSS system,
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 and this requires some careful planning and implementation.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 Now, to build a quality system, we need to think of a few components.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 One of those is going to be the early warning system.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:25 We want to develop a system that's
00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 going to help identify students at risk early on. Again, prevention.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 This involves using data from attendance, behavior, academic performance.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 Whatever we can get our hands on to help identify students who may need additional
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 support, hopefully before they need it.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 Try to think about how you're going to integrate some technology into this.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:48 Leverage technology to automate some of these tasks and streamline data collection.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 And by the way, at AWB, we're happy to help you with this.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:55 Just reach out if you need some help. This includes using software to track
00:01:55 --> 00:02:01 student progress and generate reports and just also maybe even try to help facilitate communication.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 Again, get to the heart of the matter where we can use the data to inform our
00:02:05 --> 00:02:09 decisions versus spending a whole lot of time on trying to get through the data.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 This is where your screening team comes in.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 It's a good idea to establish a team to monitor the health of your system overall
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 and help filter students for appropriate interventions.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 These teams, they should include like teachers, administrators,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 support staff, anybody that can help better identify where the needs are happening
00:02:27 --> 00:02:32 within the system and also better identify where support should be aimed for certain students.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:37 I would have this group meet regularly to try to help review data and make decisions.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:41 I would not have this group be the ones that are developing the interventions.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 We want this group to be the screening team.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 The collaboration piece is going to be really key here as well.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:51 We want to foster collaboration amongst teachers, administrators, and the support staff.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 Create opportunities for teachers to share their best practices and to problem
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 solve and support each other as they work through this system.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 I also think it's probably wise to think about how you're going to write all
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 this stuff down and how you're going to document this. Maybe it's an MTSS playbook
00:03:05 --> 00:03:09 or it's an MTSS guide or something that's going to give the processes and procedures
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 to help guide future practices.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 I know in a lot of bigger districts, this is a must-have when we are trying
00:03:15 --> 00:03:19 to align practices across various buildings or various grade levels.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:25 This playbook or this guide should include clear definitions of roles and responsibilities.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:30 Step-by-step procedures, maybe even templates for forms and reports to try to
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 ensure consistency across the system.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 Going back to that technology piece, it does significantly enhance our MTSS system.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 It'll help allow for some real-time data analysis.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 It doesn't do us a whole lot of good to just look at last year's data.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 We need to get a glimpse of what's going on today.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:51 This automated progress monitoring, it can even help with that efficient communication.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 Again, timely data, timely communication.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 It's going to help ensure that our interventions are implemented consistently and effectively.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 Now, the National Association of Elementary School Principals,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:05 or the NAESP, they highlight the importance of data-driven decision-making.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:10 They state principals must use data to inform instructional decisions and monitor student progress.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 And we know this. This is nothing that's earth-shattering information for us.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:19 But it truly means that using data to identify student needs and evaluate the
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 effectiveness of our interventions in Franklair MTSS system as a whole,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 that's going to help us make the adjustments that we need.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 Now, data is not heart data. This is really student achievement data.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 And that's the part that we're trying to get to here with our process.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 Now, one of my personal favorite resources for MTSS implementation,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:41 there's the book Taking Action, a Handbook for RTI at Work. It's by Buffum, Mattows, and Malone.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 This book provides practical strategies and tools for building and sustaining
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 an effective MTSS system.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 It is a great resource that will help you write your MTSS playbook,
00:04:51 --> 00:04:55 but will certainly help you build that MTSS system. I think it really emphasizes
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 the importance of collective responsibility and action-based results,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 and I would truly highly recommend it.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:05 For your convenience, we've got an affiliate link in the podcast description
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 if you'd like to learn more or try to get your hands on that book.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:12 Our goal here, again, though, is to build that MTSS system that is effective,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 efficient, empowering, and consistent.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:19 Now, creating that system, it's an ongoing process. It is going to require continuous
00:05:19 --> 00:05:24 improvement and a commitment to providing equitable sport for your students.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 It means we're going to have to regularly review this system,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 continually gather feedback from stakeholders, and make changes as needed.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 This is not a one-time event that we're going to get perfect.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 As I said in an earlier episode this week, if you do, please let me know.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:41 I'll be more than happy to be your agent as we tour the world and share your
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 secrets. But in reality, building that effective, efficient,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 empowering system, it's going to be worth your time and effort and your energy.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 Thank you for listening this week to our MTSS Deep Dive. If you have any other
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 further questions or would like some assistance, please reach out to us at AWB
00:05:54 --> 00:05:58 Education. We're happy to get you in touch with people that can help you build
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 a strong MTSS program in your school.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 Otherwise, finish your Friday strong. I hope you had a great week.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 We will be back again next week with some more insights and some more tips.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 Thank you for listening.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 We will talk with you again next week. You have been listening to your Morning
00:06:12 --> 00:06:16 Boost by AWB Education in partnership with Grundmeyer Leader Services.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:21 You can find out more about our services by clicking on the links in the description.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:26 Remember, you are doing this vital job that only a few can do.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:30 So until next time, thank you for your service to your community.