I am a Literacy Specialist Teacher, paid the same as a General Classroom Teacher. I believe we are peers - the 3rd grade Teacher and I, or the Kindergarten Teacher, the Art Teacher, the Computer Teacher. We are all at the same level. Or at least, that is what I believe. The difference between us is what we teach, what we focus on. I might teach Kinder(gartners) through 5th grade, but I only teach them Literacy (mostly Reading with a bit of Writing thrown in). The 3rd grade Teacher teaches Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies - only to 3rd grade students. Her "specialty" is 3rd grade. My specialty is Reading and Writing.
In a recent conversation with a Literacy coach in my district, I was told that classroom teachers are to use "Tier 1" instruction. Her description of this during small group (more or less 5 students at a time) instruction is a presentation of general/universal content and methods. She referred to a small group reading instruction format called "Right Start", as an example of this universal instruction.
Right Start is a reading lesson in which the teacher previews a book which she and each student have a copy of. This preview might include new vocabulary the students aren't familiar with, a spelling pattern (like -ough, in which the gh is pronounced as "f"), or something else intended to set the students up for a successful first read of the book. Then all students whisper read as the teacher listens to each one individually, making notes about what common errors/successes she notices. Then she may reteach something from the preview or highlight a new difficulty that arose. Finally the students are given some written assignment related to what was taught.
As a Literacy Laboratory teacher, I am to instruct using "Tier 2" instruction. This includes extensive assessment and data analysis so that I can target instruction of individual students' needs to address what specific skill they haven't mastered that prevents them from moving forward to a higher reading level.
But here's where I see a not-so-clear line between Lit Lab instruction and small group Reading instruction in a grade level specific classroom. Last year, when I was teaching 4th grade (not as a Literacy Specialist) I did extensive analysis of lots of assessment data. Why? Because I believed that to be my job, and what I needed to do in order to help students improve their reading skills. [Pause here for a new paragraph...]
On the School District website, there is a document entitled "Tier 1 Instruction", in which the following is included as part of the description of what this general classroom level of instruction must include:
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● Data is collected frequently and is used to make instructional
decisions.
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● By using a variety of methods, teachers check for student
understanding.
- ● Assessment data is used to differentiate instruction for students.
- ● Multiple opportunities are provided for learning, including: whole group, small group, and 1:1 instruction, throughout the day.
- ● Teachers are differentiating instruction for students through flexible grouping, sheltered instruction, tiered assignments and scaffolds for learning in collaboration with support staff.
This description of grade level Tier 1 instruction, sounds like targeted/differentiated instruction to me. I do realize that the 3rd grade teachers also use whole group instruction which targets specific skills that all 3rd grade students need to know. Therefore, during that part of the day, they are using universal instruction. In the Literacy Lab, we don't use universal instruction, unless one could say that for each small group of students that have been assigned to me for 30 minutes per day I use universal/whole group instruction to address their collective common needs.
If the distinction between Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction is that close, then why would I, the Tier 2 Specialist instructor, be thought of as an expert in Literacy instruction any more than the Tier 1 General Ed teacher? especially if she has at least as much experience teaching reading (at her grade level) as I do? and if we each are differentiating instruction according to individual students' needs?
Stay tuned. Clearly I need further investigation of these distinctions. So far it is a rather blurry line that differentiates these two Tiers.
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