3-Tier Model of Mathematics Instruction

Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Where does
General
General
instruction of
education
education
Appropriate
students in this
classroom
classroom
specialized
tier occur?
Before/afterinstruction
school
setting in
programs
school

Who provides
the instruction
for this tier?

What students
receive
instruction in
this tier?

Highly qualified Highly qualified

elementary
elementary
classroom
classroom
teacher
teacher
Support from
504 specialist
ESL endorsed
teacher

Whole class

Students whose
needs have not
been met
through Tier 1
instruction

Elementary
math
intervention
specialist
Special
Education
Teacher, ESL
endorsed
teacher

Students who
have not
responded
successfully to
Tier 2
interventions
Students with
severe
deficiencies in
specific math
skills

How much time

should be
scheduled for
this tier?

At least one
hour of core
mathematics
every day

What type of
instruction
takes place at
this tier?

1. Conceptual
development of
core grade level
math ideas and
skills.
2.
Differentiated
instruction for
concept and
skill acquisition
3. Guided
practice
4. Use of
physical, visual
and abstract
representations
5.
Manipulatives
and technology
as instructional
tools
6. Application
of skills
throughout the
day across
content areas

4-5 times/week
Additional 1520 mins beyond
Tier 1
instruction

Minimum of
20-30 mins
daily in
addition to
Tier 1
instruction

1. Targeted
1. Emphasis on
systematic,
student needs
explicit
within in the
instruction
Core
2.
2. Essential
Differentiated
knowledge
small group
and skills for
instruction
individual
3. Explicit
student
connections
success
between
3. Emphasis on
physical, visual number sense
and abstract
and operations
representations
4.
4. Additional
Development
conceptual
of math
development of
vocabulary
core math ideas
and skills
5. Guided
practice
6.
Manipulatives
and technology