💡 A Practitioner’s Guide to Getting Tier 1 Right Before Going Tier 2 Deep

So many teachers say, “We’ve tried Tier 1. It didn’t work.”
Here’s the truth: If you can’t describe the model, you probably didn’t implement it.
Tier 1 isn’t a warm-up act. It’s the main event. It’s your curriculum, your pacing, your core instruction—and yes, your first line of intervention.

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📐 What Tier 1 Is:

• Standards-based, research-aligned instruction
• Whole-group + strategic small-group structures
• Frequent checks for understanding
• Embedded scaffolding for all learners, not just struggling ones
• Pre-planned strategies for common misconceptions

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🚫 What Tier 1 Is Not:

• “I taught it once and moved on”
• Waiting for students to fail before adjusting
• Worksheets in place of active instruction
• Simply covering standards instead of mastering them

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🧩 How We Model Tier 1 at Every Grade:

✅ K–5:

• Explicit phonics and fluency routines grounded in the Science of Reading
• I Do–We Do–You Do structure with frequent student response opportunities
• Use of Marzano non-linguistic vocabulary strategies in all content areas
• Small-group rotations built around diagnostics—not just groups for convenience
• Daily exit tickets that align to grade-level standards, not just skills

✅ 6–8:

• Use verb/noun alignment from BDS to drive mini-lessons
• All teachers use formative probes every 3 days
• Fluency checks tied to content vocabulary (Marzano-style)

✅ 9–12:

• Plan-Do-Disaggregate-Improve (PDDI) model each unit
• Job-embedded PD (JEPD) focuses on Tier 1 differentiation, not just Tier 2 fix-its
• All lessons must include at least one proactive scaffold (not reactive)

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📥 Free Resources to Support Tier 1 Execution

🧾 Download the Tier 1 Fidelity Walkthrough Tool (DOCX)

Use this to:

• Audit your Tier 1 delivery schoolwide
• Start reflective coaching conversations
• Tighten your expectations before jumping to Tier 2

🖼️ Download the Tier 1 Instructional Model Slide (PNG)

Use during PD, PLCs, or as a posted reminder for teams.
✔️ One slide. One standard. Full clarity.

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📚 Go Even Deeper

Need a deeper guide for what Tier 1 truly looks like across grade bands? Start here:

📘 Read the Tier 1 Isn’t a Mystery eBook →

Still struggling to distinguish scaffolding from differentiation? You’re not alone—this guide will help:

🧱 Read the Scaffolding Isn’t Differentiation eBook →

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🧠 Let’s stop calling Tier 1 a mystery—because real leaders don’t guess.
They model. They monitor. They move mountains.

BetterTogether #CourageousLeaders #Tier1OnPurpose #PractitionerPowered