The Differentiated Instruction and Response to Intervention Connection

Learn how to combine two powerful educational approaches so you can enable every student in your classroom to succeed. This course shows you how to use Differentiated Instruction and Response to Intervention in your day-to-day classroom teaching and lesson planning.

6 Weeks / 24 Course Hrs

Starting May 14, 2025

Offered in partnership with your preferred school

Georgia College & State University

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Learning method

Instructor-Moderated

$139

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Starting May 14 | June 11

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Details + Objectives

Course code: 4di

Today's teachers are using two powerful approaches—Differentiated Instruction (DI) and Response to Intervention (RTI)—to help every child succeed academically. In this course, you'll learn how to put this "dynamic duo" to work in your own classroom teaching and lesson plans.

You will explore different learning styles and delving into a concept called multiple intelligences. You will examine the factors that motivate students to learn in a child-centered classroom. You will master the basics of both DI and RTI and learn how these two approaches work hand-in-hand to enhance children's learning. You will discover how to perform different types of assessments, monitor your students' progress, select research-based teaching materials, address learners' diverse needs, and move students up or down the RTI tiers so they're getting just the right help they need. Finally, you'll learn how to get parents involved as active partners in the education process. You'll come away armed with powerful and easy-to-implement strategies that will benefit every student you teach!

What you will learn

Master the basics of both DI and RTI and learn how these two approaches interact to enhance student learning
Examine the factors that motivate students to learn and discover how to build and engaging environment
Discover how to perform different types of assessments and monitor student progress with the data you collect
Learn how to integrate the principles of RTI and DI into lessons for any content area

How you will benefit

Discover effective strategies to foster your students' comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary
Improve your success as a professional educator through assessment and data tools
Meet the needs of every student in your classroom by developing DI tools that work for you

How the course is taught

Instructor-Moderated online course
6 Weeks access
24 course hours

Outline

Marcus struggles with math, Caryn can't sit still, and Brianne is reading two years below grade level. Does this sound like your classroom? If so, you need help—and you'll find it here! In this course, you'll explore practical, easy-to-use strategies for implementing RTI (Response to Intervention) and DI (Differentiated Instruction)—two new and powerful educational frameworks. In the first lesson, you'll see how these two approaches came into being and discover how you can prepare yourself and your students to use them successfully.

One crucial concept is central to both RTI and DI. What is it? That every child can learn. To transform that concept into a reality, you'll need to tailor your strategies to meet the needs of each student—and that's what this lesson will talk about. First, you'll look at three different learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Next, you'll explore eight—yes, eight—different intelligences. Finally, you'll look at one thing that all of your very diverse students need: a motivation to learn.

In this lesson, you'll explore the first of two powerful instructional frameworks: Response to Intervention, or RTI. You'll examine how the RTI model differs from the traditional IQ Discrepancy Model and look at how you'll decide which tier is just right for each of your students. In addition, you'll identify the five core elements of every successful RTI program.

In this lesson, you'll meet the second member of the dynamic duo: Differentiated Instruction (DI). First, you'll learn how to create a DI classroom by adapting three elements of your lessons: content, process, and product. Next, you'll discover how flexible groupings and a technique called compacting allow you to teach to every skill level. Finally, the lesson will talk about anchor activities, including journaling and RAFT assignments.

RTI and DI work hand-in-hand, and it's time to discover why they make such a great team. In this lesson, you'll look at ways to interweave the two approaches when you're assessing students, creating standards-based and child-centered instruction, and finding a way to help every learner succeed. In addition, the lesson will talk a little about preparing for the transition to an RTI/DI classroom.

Teachers are happiest when they're teaching, not when they're testing. So why do you need to spend so much time assessing kids in RTI and DI? In this lesson, you'll discover the answer as you delve into the benefits of all that data you'll be collecting. In addition, you'll look at different types of assessments and talk a little about the important topic of fidelity.

You'll continue your look at assessments by looking at three types of tools you'll use in a DI classroom: pre-assessments, formative assessments, and summative assessments. You'll discover that these assessments, in addition to providing you with valuable data, can be fun and effective learning tools.

Collaboration is the key to a successful RTI program, so this lesson will talk about teamwork. You'll learn all about your school's RTI intervention team and find out how to refer students to this team. In addition, you'll discover the benefits of volunteering to serve on this team yourself and get some great tips for holding effective team meetings.

Research-based interventions are a foundation of RTI and DI. But you're a teacher, not a researcher, so how can you know if an intervention qualifies as research-based? This lesson will tell you how to evaluate interventions yourself—and better yet, it will steer you to resources that will do the work for you. In addition, you'll explore nine research-based strategies that can benefit all of your students, whether they're struggling or not.

A great lesson starts with a strong lesson plan, and that's where you'll begin. First, you'll look at ways to meet your state and district standards as you develop lesson plans that satisfy the needs of every student. After that, the lesson will discuss ways to enhance your students' classroom experience. Finally, you'll visit a virtual campus and begin exploring how you'll implement RTI and DI on a daily basis.

In this lesson, you'll visit the classroom of Mrs. Green and see how she implements RTI and DI in her lesson plans. You'll watch as she integrates principles of both educational frameworks into her math, science, reading, writing, and literature arts lessons.

In the final lesson, you'll explore some fun and effective ways to foster your students' comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary skills. In addition, the lesson will talk about two groups of kids who need extra attention in an RTI/DI classroom: gifted students and kids who may need special education placements. After that, you'll take a closer look at the role of parents in learner-centered classrooms.

Instructors & Support

Marsha Spears

A veteran educator who has taught every grade but third, Marsha Spears has spent 35 years teaching students and training teachers. Spears earned a bachelor's and master's degree in educational administration with a specialty in curriculum and literacy development. This training that would prepare her to take on the toughest of classrooms, and tough classrooms are exactly where she made her mark, helping a wide variety of at-risk learners read with renewed confidence. Over the years, thousands of students and teachers have learned how easily they can incorporate Spears' reading techniques and activities into their daily routines.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 8 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

FAQ

A new session of each course begins each month. Please refer to the session start dates for scheduling.

Once a course session starts, two lessons will be released each week for the 6 week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends. You will interact with the instructor through the online discussion area. There are no live sessions or online meetings with the instructor.

The interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes two weeks after each lesson is released, so you're encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release. However, you will have access to all lessons from the time they are released until the course ends.

Students enrolled in a six-week online class benefit from a one-time, 10-day extension for each course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.

Reviews

This course was well written and of high interest. Working overseas at an American school, it is of great value to me to be able to keep up with the current research and trends in education in the States.

Thank you - this was my first course. I loved it! I already signed up for another!

I felt the lessons were well thought out and organized. The information was easy to understand and interesting. I especially liked the many examples of strategies that were given throughout the lessons. The course material was relevant to all teachers today because there is such an emphasize on reaching every student. It is crucial that teachers are familiar with DI and RTI and know how to implement them in the classroom. Thanks for a great course!

This has really been a great course! I just started teaching three years ago, and I have had to deal with the RTI system every year. The members of our RTI group weren't very helpful, while I was learning the ropes. Now, I see why. They had no clue what they were doing! I feel like I'm no longer a novice, and hopefully will be able to help not only my students, but also the teachers I work with. Thank you so much for offering this class. I've learned a lot of "usable" information for once!!! Thanks again!

Thank you - this was my first course. I loved it! I already signed up for another!

The Differentiated Instruction and Response to Intervention Connection

Georgia College & State University