Intensive Intervention Module

Discussion Questions

1. What is intensive intervention? For whom is it necessary and why?

Intensive intervention is known as the tertiary or Tier 3 instruction. It is provided in a

smaller-group setting of one to three students. It is provided in addition to primary
instruction. It is an intervention that is for students with and without disabilities. These
students have difficulties academically and that did not do well with targeted instruction
Intensive intervention is also for students with disabilities who are not making progress
with their IEP Goals.

2. Briefly describe the DBI process.

The DBI process is to be implemented when a student is not responding to an evidence-

based practice or program that is implemented with fidelity. DBI consists of 5 steps these
five steps in order are, Validated Intervention Program, Progress Monitoring, Diagnostic
Assessment, Intervention Adaptation, and Progress Monitoring. Step one Validated
Intervention Program “Make the secondary intervention more intensive through
quantitative changes to the instruction that a student receives.” Step two Progress
Monitoring “Evaluate the student’s response to the intensified intervention by collecting
progress monitoring data.” Step 3 Diagnostic Assessment “Collect and review data (e.g.,
progress monitoring data, student work samples, observations) to identify areas of
difficulty and to make informed decisions about how to adapt the intervention.” Step four
Intervention Adaptation “Adapt the intervention based on the student’s needs as
determined by the diagnostic assessment.” Step Five Progress Monitoring “Continue to
collect progress monitoring data to evaluate the student’s response to the instructional
adaptations.”

3.  Morgan, a third grader, struggles with adding numbers that have two or more digits.
Morgan has ADHD and has difficulty staying focused for more than 10 minutes at
any time. He has not responded adequately to targeted instruction. He has been
receiving small-group heterogeneous instruction for 30 minutes three times per week.

a. Suggest one quantitative adaptation that Morgan’s teacher can make for
Step 1 of the DBI process. Explain why you chose this adaptation.

A quantitative adaptation that Morgan’s teacher can make is to change the learning
environment to add more attention and engagement for Morgan. Morgan has difficulty
staying focused. So, having a smaller group size could help. Morgan should be grouped with
students with similar abilities rather than grouping students of varying abilities, and
reducing classroom distractions like noise will promote academic engagement. By making
these changes, I chose this a adaptation because I believe Morgan will gain more knowledge
for a smaller group instruction then before but also working in this small group with peers
who have the same abilities. Having less distractions and more attention and engagement
for Morgan should also help.

 After four weeks of collecting progress monitoring data, it is clear that Morgan is not
responding to these adaptations. Because of this, a diagnostic assessment was
administered that included an error analysis. The error analysis indicates that Morgan
is adding the numbers correctly but in the wrong order. He starts by adding the
numbers in the ten’s column and then he adds the numbers in the one’s column. For
example, in the problem to the right, he adds 4+5 and writes 9. Next, he adds 7+4 and
writes 11. Although he adds correctly, he uses the wrong procedure and consequently
gets the wrong answer.

a. Describe at least two adaptations his teacher can make for Step 4 of the
DBI process. Include at least one qualitative adaptation. Explain why you
chose these adaptations.

The teacher can do individual instruction with Morgan. Adding

individualized instruction at least in Math will help with less
distraction and more one on one intervention. Another adaptation
possibly could be pull out instruction to a special education
classroom. This pull-out service will help Morgan with more
individualized instruction. I believe these will help Morgan.