Response to Intervention (RTI)
Response to intervention (RTI) is utilized in the educational system as a way to support struggling students, who need additional support learning, in a multi-tiered approach. This can occur in special education or the regular education environment. Strategies are utilized with these struggling students to help them learn in the least restrictive educational environment. These supports can come from a variety of educational staff including occupational therapists and physical therapist. The supports may focus on curricular modifications, behavioral/ sensory supports, or motor skills.
The suggestions below are options that may assist struggling students. The below suggestions address common concerns in the educational environment.


Writing supports

1. To promote a better grasp try pencil grips, broke crayons, or short pencils / golf pencils
2. A slant board to write on to assist with positioning and visual attention
3. Use of an art pencil or mechanical pencil for appropriate pressure when writing
4. Finger spacer or popsicle stick to assist with spacing between words
5. Utilize a multi-sensory approach to writing to address upper case letters, lower case letters, and numbers
   • Sand paper letters
   • Writing in shaving cream
   • Air writing
   • Building letters with wiki sticks, pipe cleaners, or play dough
6. Review if letters should be tall or small before writing them for correct letter size
7. Adapted paper to write on to assist with line adherence and letter size
   • Tactile paper or use wiki sticks, a bead of glue to emphasize the line the letters are to sit on
   • Highlight the line the letters are to sit on
   • Use lined versus unlined paper when writing
   • Highlight or color code paper to emphasize letter size
   • Double line paper to eliminate the middle dotted line
8. An ABC strip to refer to help with recalling what the letter looks like and for letter reversals
9. Graph paper to line up numbers in math
10. Editing checklist for letter size, spacing, line adherence, punctuation and capitalization
11. Extra time for completing work
12. Reduced work load
13. Practice writing 10-15 minutes a day
14. Supportive seating with hips, knees, and ankles at 90°

 
Attention/ sensory supports

1. Use of fidgets to assist with attention
2. Preferential seating to assist with attention
3. Movement breaks to assist with attending to task and to address strength, balance and focus
   • Brain gym (hook ups, brain buttons, cross crawl, figure eights)
   • Yoga (rock, tree, warrior, boat, cobra, partner)
   • Chair exercises (leg lifts, chair push ups, squats)
   • Large motor (jumping jack, stretching, wall slides, jumping on a trampoline, animal walks, run in place)
4. Alternative seating to allow for movement
   • Movement cushion
   • Theraband around the legs of the chair
   • Standing at desk
   • Reading on the floor
5. Supportive positioning for body (hips, knees, ankles at 90 degrees) to assist with trunk support to allow for writing and table top activities.
6. Chewing gum
7. Drinking water in a resistive sports bottle
8. Heavy work
   • Carrying a bag or box of books
   • Moving chairs
   • Delivering mail/ returning supplies to another classroom
   • Wash desks
   • Sharpen pencils manually
   • Wall push ups
   • Any activity that involves moving weighted objects

Organizational Supports

1. Provide a checklist to follow the steps
2. Provide structure and routine in classroom and with tasks
3. Review and model expectations prior to task/ activity
4. Allow for an a reasonable size work area
5. Allow extra time if necessary
6. Provide a timer or clock to assist with time management or to let the student when the activity will end
7. Keep another set of books at home
8. Have bins labeled in locker
9. Have extra bins at the student’s desk to organize tools and materials
10. Use a color coding system for organizing classroom papers
11. Save homework on flash drive, Google docs, Dropbox, or email it to yourself and your teacher
12. Use of assignment notebook, Google Calendar, app on smart phone or tablet

Balls Skills Supports

1. Encourage during recess in a fun environment and carry over the skill in PE class
2. Larger and lighter balls are easier to catch

Stairs Supports

1. Encourage safety and distraction free environment. Do not carry anything.
2. Hold onto the rail
3. One stair at a time before alternating feet on stairs

For more information on RTI look at the links below.

1. AOTA RTI Practices
2. OTPT Handbook

Resources for Educators
Backpack Safety
Indoor Gross and Fine Motor Activities for Cold Weather
Infinitec Consortium
Kids with ADHD, must squirm to learn, study says
OT Tips for Homework Success
School Tips for Adminstrators and Educators
School Tips for Parents
Whats All the Flap About
What’s Lost as Handwriting Fads