Distinguishing Difference from Disability Intervention Implications

St. Vrain School District September 10, 2013

John J. Hoover, Ph.D.

Workshop Topics I. Brief Review of Difference/Disability (Last Semester’s Session)

II. Overview of Intervention (Types/Defined/Success in RTI models/Delivery)

III. Intervention Practices

IV. Core Practices Instructional Tool: Action Item

Workshop Outcomes1. Recognize significance of distinguishing learning difference from disability when selecting interventions

2. Know core instructional themes necessary to deliver effective instruction and interventions for ELs

3. Recognize HOW to assist classroom teachers select appropriate interventions for ELs

I. Situating Difference from Disability: Knowledge and Skills Perspective

Three Contributing Elements to Recognize Difference- Disability

Cultural Diversity – Understand how culturally diverse teachings, values, norms influence and shape learning

Second Language

Acquisition – Understand SLA development and

expected classroom

behaviors

Learning/EmotionalDisability

Characteristics- Understand some cultural and linguistic behaviors are similar to some disability behaviors (Must recognize differences)

Source: J. J. Hoover (2009)

Distinguishing Difference from Disability: Referral, Assessment, Intervention Implications

Perspective on ‘distinguishing difference from disability’ is grounded in three related research-based instructional views:

1) Funds of Knowledge (Moll, 1992) 2) Cultural influences on learning (Nieto & Bode, 2010)

3) Confusing second language acquisition with language/learning disabilities (Artiles & Ortiz, 2002)

Each view toward teaching and learning highlights strengths CLD learners bring to the classroom; Behaviors that may differ from our typical expectations

Historical Perspective Review: Difference-Disability

Moll (1992) --- Home and community resources of students provide valuable sources of information (i.e., funds of knowledge).

Artiles and Ortiz (2002) --- Behaviors associated with the normal second language acquisition process may be confused with language and/or learning disabilities ( i.e., language acquisition process in learning).

Nieto and Bode (2010) --- Teachers must understand the culturally-influenced differences students bring with them to school (i.e., cultural differences toward learning).

Hoover (2012) --- Educators must acquire an understanding of the differences between cultural/linguistic and disability behaviors to make informed instructional decisions for ELs (i.e., referral, assessment, intervention decisions).

Is it Second Language Acquisition, Cultural Teaching, or Disability?

What students bring to the classroom may

differ according to their cultural and linguistic

backgrounds, individual circumstances,

and teachings

Differences that must not be interpreted

as disabilities or deficits when selecting

interventions

Book: Page 16

II. Overview of Intervention Which One? Why?

While one researcher may decide an intervention has enough evidence to give it high marks, another researcher, using different criteria, may give the research a lower rating (CEC Website, 2011. Evidence-Based Practice—Wanted, Needed, and Hard to Get)

Term ‘Intervention’ represents two distinctly different perspectives within an RTI model

Process Method

Intervention as a Process

Process

Set of instructional procedures, tasksor schedules thatframe the deliveryof instruction

Example-Tier 2

Tier 2 as an Intervention includes:* Small Group* Several times per week* Focus on specific area* Frequent monitoring

Intervention as a Method

MethodSpecific method, strategy or curriculum used in the delivery of instruction in different tiers or level of instruction

Evidence-Based“instructional techniques with meaningful research support that represent critical tools in bridging the research-to-practice gap and improving student outcomes”(Cook, Smith and Tankersley, in press; Slavin, 2002)

Intervention Example: Explicit Instruction

Explicit instruction is a systematic instructional approach that includes two essential components: (a) visible delivery features with high level of teacher and student interactions, and (b) instructional design principles guiding the intervention use in the classroom (2012, NATIONAL CENTER ON ACCESSIBLE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AT CAST WEBSITE)

On what basis (i.e., rationale) might one select Explicit Instruction as an intervention? Depends on the learner’s needs and strengths

Intervention Rationale: Explicit Instruction

LearnersGeneral ClassroomNon-English Learners

Students with a Learning Disability

General Classroom English Learners

Usage RationaleAll students benefit from well-designed, and explicitly taught skills to assist with organization, expectations, and outcomes

Provides highly structured, interactive process addressing distractibility issues often associated with LD

Method supports structure and adequate wait time to process information; structure and time ELs require in developing proficiency with English

Example: Graphic Organizers Retell, Relate, Reflect

Rationale Relating and reflecting will encourage EL students to develop thinking strategies important in acquiring skills in first and second languages. Reflecting on own culture, students actively engage with the reading focus on key details through retelling, also important in acquiring English and skills in English http://www.readingquest.org/strat/storymaps.html

http://www.readinga-z.com/comprehension/reading-graphic-organizers/

StandardSkill: Use key ideas and details to recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.

Concept: Fables and folktales; Central message, lesson, moral

Summary: Intervention SelectionSelecting Intervention as a method or as a process requires attention to learning needs and strengths to best understand WHY whatever is selected is appropriate Requires greater specificity than simple selection (e.g., Why might Explicit Instruction be best for my ELs?; Which type of Graphic Organizer would be best to use?; If I use Think Alouds which specific learner strengths or needs am I addressing?)

Selecting Interventions to Make

Instructional AdjustmentsMust select an intervention for the correct and accurate reasons (avoiding misinterpreting a difference as a disability) to make meaningful changes in ELs education and progress

Interactive Check-Five Minutes

Task: Turn to a colleague and share one example from your experiences that illustrates the misinterpretation of cultural and linguistic diversity in selecting or delivering an intervention (method or process)

III. Intervention Practices Best Structure for Implementing Intervention

“In schools we have worked with where general education teachers are assigned both Tier 1 and some Tier 2 groups, reading specialists are assigned to Tier 2 and Tier 3 groups, and special educators are assigned to Tier 3 and some Tier 2 groups, we find that a real shared responsibility perspective develops.

In those schools where general education teachers are always viewed as only Tier 1 instructors, remedial teachers as Tier 2, and special educators as Tier 3, we find that breaking down the natural "mine" versus "ours" dimension of thinking about collaboration across instructional concerns is more difficult.”

Source: E. S. Shapiro (RTI Action Network Website)

Selected Reasons Why Interventions in Multi-Level Instruction May be Ineffective

1. Instruction in Tiers 1 and 2 is disconnected

Solution: Utilizing skills and strengths of general class and support educators to clearly demonstrate interconnectedness of instruction in both tiers

2. Continued emphasis placed on what is “wrong” with learner (i.e., intrinsic)

Solution: Drill down into the curriculum not into the child (i.e., How might the Tier 1 curriculum be implemented differently to best meet learner need? What aspects of the curriculum may be contributing to learner’s struggles?)

3. Instructional adjustments are made based on data yet address wrong need

Solution: Directly link assessment to instruction by properly interpreting results (e.g., recognize that select ways of learning reflect cultural teachings; distinguish language acquisition from language disability; need for extra time is cultural or a second language acquisition development behavior)

Source: J. J. Hoover (2012)

Goldenberg 2008Instructional modifications for ELLsMeaningful contextsOpportunities for repetition and useExplicit vocabulary instructionCooperative learningInstructional conversationsCombination of direct and interactive

approaches Familiar textScaffolds (graphic organizers, routines,

redundant key info)Additional time

Framing Intervention as a Culturally Responsive Process

Essential Instructional

Components in Intervention

Process

9. Explicit, Small

Group Instruction (Directed/guided in

low stress situations)

1. Communicate High

Expectations(Respect student

capabilities)

2.Use Active Teaching

Methods(Promote student

active engagement)

3.Facilitate Active

Learning (Balance explicit and

facilitated instruction)

4.Include Parental/

Family Perspectives (Value family input

and views)

5.Demonstrate

Cultural Sensitivity(Acquire

cultural/linguistic awareness of own

students and incorporate in

teaching)

6.Reshape the Curriculum

(Differentiate to meet diverse needs; Build background

knowledge)

7. Provide Culturally

Mediated Instruction(Actively facilitate problem solving

abilities; Language connections, development)

8.Promote Student

Controlled Classroom Discourse and

Cooperative Learning(Promote reciprocal

dialogue; interactions)

Sources: Callins, 2006-NCCRESt Brief); Goldenberg, 2008)

IV. Core ESL Instructional Practices (CEIP) Guide

Development over past 2 yearsPurpose:Identify and confirm common instructional practices necessary to deliver effective core Tier 1 instruction to ELs in the general classroom (Reading, Writing, Math, Social Sciences)

Process:Fourth IterationFive Cognitive InterviewsTwo Focus GroupsOne Pilot

CEIP Core ESL Instructional Practices

ESL Instructional Tool Research Perspectives

While we know that some general education practices are effective with English Learners (EL), research is also clear that teachers must make pedagogical modifications to account for differences in language proficiency (August & Shanahan, 2006; Goldenberg, 2008).

Unfortunately, we have data to suggest that many general education teachers are unprepared to institute these modifications. A recent report contained the following conclusion about teacher preparation: “Less than 13 percent of teachers have received professional development on teaching ELLs” (NCTE, 2008, p. 6).

Handout: Two-Column Themes

CEIP Pilot Responses Mean pilot scores for each theme (n=35)Theme Average Level1-Connections 3.48 Frequent-Extensive2-Materials 3.07 Frequent3-Native language Usage 1.97 Minimal-Partial4-Culture 2.85 Partial-Frequent5-Differentiations 3.36 Frequent6-English language Dev. 3.32 Frequent7-Assessment for instruction 2.97 Partial-Frequent

4=Extensive - Practice is employed throughout all lessons in the entire unit 3=Frequent - Practice is employed throughout most lessons in the unit (i.e., more than half)2=Partial  - Practice is employed in a few lessons in the unit (i.e., more than 1 or 2; less that half) 1=Minimal  - Practice is never or infrequently employed in the Unit (i.e., in only 1 or 2 lessons)

Source: J. J. Hoover et al. (2013). Core ESL Instructional Practices (CEIP) Guide: Self-Examination and Instructional Coaching Tool.

Practitioner Usefulness1: Self-Examination – Respondents reported the CEIP useful in guiding self-assessment and many asked for a copy of the tool, indicating they wished they had this tool to help them in their classroom teaching.

2: Use with Instructional Coaching – Similar to the above item participants indicated that the CEIP would be highly useful in their coaching/mentoring instructional activities for both the coach and teachers receiving support.

3: Design Professional Development – Respondents stated that the CEIP would be good for designing school-wide professional development with several indicating that grade-level teams would find this very helpful to determine ESL knowledge and skills requiring additional development.

Sample Theme CompletionBased on your current/recent teaching or your knowledge of instruction in classrooms you supervise/support, complete the following three Themes on the CEIP:

ConnectionsDifferentiationsAssessment to Inform

InstructionItems on Page 9

Task for September 19th SessionSelect three general education classroom teachers who have ELs in their classrooms and have them complete the CEIP.

Bring completed guides to the 19th session

Familiarize yourself with your three completed guides, especially the Action Items identified by the teachers