To minimize the risk of having a student slip through the cracks, many schools and educators use the Response to Intervention approach with children who are struggling with mathematics. There are many ways to go about this approach, but online math games are proving to be among the very best options. There are many exciting benefits to putting online math games to work with RTI. The most important thing to keep in mind is that these games can be used in a number of different ways. Whether the students plays them on his own or is joined by an educator, he is sure to benefit enormously from the exceptional characteristics that are included in such games. The following information provides a clearer understanding of why these games work so well in such situations.
Adaptive Learning for a Multi-Tiered Approach
One of the key characteristics of the Response to Intervention approach is that it has multiple tiers. Tier I is designed for students who may be temporarily experiencing problems with math, or who may have minor issues. Tier II is designed for students who are performing markedly below grade level. Tier III is designed for students who are at risk of failing completely. Regardless of which of these three tiers a student falls into, the right online math games can make a profound difference. The main thing to look for is adaptive learning. The best games will take a student's strengths and weaknesses into account.
Differentiated Instruction
Most teachers and parents know that different students require different methods of instruction. That is particularly true when it comes to students who are struggling. Differentiated instruction is a critical part of any successful Response to Intervention approach. Today's most well designed online math games adapt to suit the needs of each individual child. They analyze a child's strengths and weaknesses while he plays them. From there, they formulate problems that ease a child into learning new concepts and overcoming problems. They dovetail nicely with RTI methodology.
Virtual Manipulation
For many children, math problems are too abstract to be understood in a concrete way. Teachers can use blocks and other physical objects to overcome some of the problem, but this isn't always effective. Today's best online math games feature virtual manipulation, which allows kids to look at mathematical concepts in a whole new way. This provides another way to make Response to Intervention an effective strategy. Children also enjoy virtual manipulation because it is highly interactive. As long as these games are presented in a fun and entertaining way, they can provide a great deal of educational value.
Thanks to well-designed online math games for elementary school students, there's one more way to bolster the benefits of a Response to Intervention approach. These games are invaluable resources for teachers, who traditionally have limited amounts of one-on-one time with individual students. By including these games, a teacher can ensure that struggling students are receiving the extra attention that is needed. Of course, these games can't take the place of traditional instruction. When used in combination with traditional methods, however, they can be highly effective and extremely beneficial. Many students thrive through their use of online math games. As long as the games include adaptive learning methods, they can be extremely helpful from an RTI standpoint.
Jim Wheelin writes about many different educational topics for parents, kids and teachers. Lately, he has been on the lookout for learning programs that offer Response to Intervention strategy to support his kids' development. Jim also encourages other to test educational games such as the ones offered at http://www.dreambox.com/math-intervention.