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Close Learning Gaps with Proven Approaches to Academic Intervention

Effective K–5 Academic Intervention Strategies in Math and Reading

Academic-Intervention

Let’s explore how effective academic intervention addresses learning gaps to ensure that students receive the targeted support they need to get on track and succeed—especially with math and reading.

This page will guide you through the essential aspects of academic intervention programs, enhance the effectiveness of your intervention strategies, and foster a more supportive learning environment for every student.

intervention-hero
icon-intervention

Learning Intervention for Success

Early, systematic academic intervention—guided by formative and summative assessment data—ensures targeted instruction that addresses individual skill gaps and learning needs.

  • Academic Intervention

  • Math Intervention

  • Reading Intervention

  • TCM Intervention Resources

  • The State of Academic Intervention

    State-of-Academic-Intervention

    The State of Academic Intervention

    Academic intervention is more important than ever as schools work to support a wide range of learners and to close persistent achievement gaps. To better understand how these efforts are taking shape both nationally and in today’s classrooms, we can look at the current state of academic intervention in our education system.

    National Academic Intervention Trends

    Recent data, including insights from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), highlight national trends in student performance. In many cases, students—particularly in math and reading—are struggling to meet grade-level expectations. This data underscores the importance of robust, evidence-based intervention programs to help close achievement gaps and support students at risk of falling behind.

    What U.S. Teachers Report About Learning Interventions

    Educators across the country have shared valuable insights into how K–12 schools are addressing academic challenges.

    Among the findings:
    • Grade Levels with Highest Needs: Teachers identify the highest needs in both math and reading intervention in grades K–2, while administrators identify grades 6–8.
    • Challenges: A lack of time, resources, trained staff, and consistent assessment practices are often cited as barriers to effective intervention.
    • Strategies for Success: Successful programs often emphasize flexibility, ongoing assessment, professional development for teachers, and teacher collaboration.

    State of K–12 Academic Intervention Infographic

    Grades K–12

    Gain a quick overview of the challenges, strategies, and impact of interventions in today's classrooms.

    DOWNLOAD NOW

     

  • Tiers of Learning Intervention

    tiers-academic-intervention

    Tiers of Learning Intervention

    Two prominent frameworks for academic intervention are Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). These models provide structured pathways for identifying students' needs and delivering appropriate support at various levels:

    Response to Intervention (RTI) is a three-tiered approach where students receive support based on their needs, starting with universal interventions and escalating to more intensive, individualized interventions.

    • Tier 1: Universal Instruction—All students receive high-quality, evidence-based instruction in the general education classroom. Teachers use regular assessments to monitor progress and identify students who may need additional support. The classroom teacher leads instruction at this tier.
    • Tier 2: Targeted Group Interventions—Students whose needs are not adequately met  by Tier 1 receive more targeted, small-group interventions. These interventions typically occur a few times a week and are often delivered by the classroom teacher or a reading or math specialist.
    • Tier 3: Intensive Individualized Interventions—For students who need additional support beyond Tier 2, Tier 3 offers more frequent and individualized instruction. Interventions at this level are highly specialized and may be delivered by interventionists, special education teachers, or other trained support staff.

    MTSS builds on RTI, but integrates behavioral and social-emotional interventions. It emphasizes collaboration among educators, families, and specialists to ensure students receive comprehensive support and uses data-based decision-making to ensure that students’ needs are met holistically across all areas of development. 

  • Effective Academic Intervention

    effective-academic-intervention

    Effective Academic Intervention

    Learning interventions are targeted, systematic approaches designed to support students who need additional support. Whether in reading, math, or other subjects, an academic intervention aims to quickly bridge students’ individual learning gaps—providing students with the skills and confidence they need to progress. Effective academic intervention goes beyond simply offering remedial support; it engages and helps students take ownership of their learning. High-yield, impactful academic intervention includes must-have qualities to be successful. 

    Best Practices in Academic Intervention

    High-impact intervention strategies help educators identify students’ specific learning needs and provide focused, timely support to close skill gaps and accelerate academic growth. Effective intervention programs help cultivate learning environments where all students can advance toward grade-level proficiency.

    To achieve successful outcomes, academic intervention programs must be:

    • Teacher-led and explicit, not solely dependent on technology.
    • Grounded in research and evidence-based practices.
    • Systematic and sequential, ensuring that lessons are consistent and structured to build on foundational skills  
    • Informed by regular, ongoing integrated assessments to guide instruction.
    • Administered early, as soon as skill gaps are identified. 
    • Flexible, allowing for adjustments based on individual student needs within existing structures and formats.
    • Focused on transferring skills, ensuring that students apply what they've learned.
    • Blended, offering options for digital and physical implementation to teachers.  
    • Collaborative, involving all key stakeholders and prioritizing clear communication for student success. 

    Teacher-Led

    One of the cornerstones of effective intervention is teacher-led instruction. This approach is more flexible, more responsive, and more personalized than automated or computer-driven solutions. Teachers can adapt their strategies in real-time, delivering targeted lessons that address specific learning gaps.

    Effective intervention often involves explicit teaching routines, which ensure that students are engaged in direct, expert-led, focused instruction. Predictable routines provide structure, reduce uncertainty, and help students focus on learning.

    These routines also support efficient use of time, minimize distractions, and reinforce academic behaviors through repetition. By combining structure with responsive teaching, teachers can deliver focused, high-impact instruction.

    How to Make an Impact in Your Intervention Programs Webinar

    Learn to plan lessons with high-yield instructional strategies that maximize student learning and incorporate engaging and entertaining instructional activities across content areas. 

    Watch Now

     

    Research- and Evidence-Based 

    For academic intervention programs to be truly effective, they must be grounded in research and evidence-based strategies that are proven to yield positive learning outcomes for students.

    Research-informed interventions ensure that the methods used are both effective and efficient, maximizing the impact of instructional time, avoiding  ineffective or outdated strategies, and boosting students' success.

    Systematic 

    Systematic academic interventions follow a clear and organized plan, focusing on one skill at a time. A systematic approach focused on key, isolated skills and series ensures that interventions are structured, targeted, and effective.

    This approach ensures that interventions are not only responsive to individual student needs but also cohesive, efficient, and goal-oriented—maximizing the chances for meaningful, lasting academic improvement. 

    Integrated Assessment

    Effective academic intervention programs must be based on timely, actionable data. Assessment, therefore, plays a critical role.

    Summative assessments provide a comprehensive view of student performance and long-term learning outcomes, helping to evaluate overall achievement and instructional effectiveness.

    Formative assessments offer immediate, skill-specific feedback. Conducted regularly, they provide valuable information to guide instructional decisions and make real-time adjustments, ensuring interventions are tailored to each student’s needs. 

    Mastering the Formative Assessment Data Cycle Playbook

    Grades K–12

    Turn formative assessment data into action with a resource that systematically walks teachers through a four-phase cycle and includes tips, tools, and examples to help collect, analyze, and act on student data with confidence.

    Download Now

     

    Summative assessments track long-term progress, while formative assessments provide the insights needed for responsive, targeted teaching to form a powerful, data-driven cycle for effective academic intervention.

    Standards-based assessments help measure progress towards specific, measurable goals, ensuring that interventions are aligned with key education standards.

    The integration of summative and formative assessments offers a full spectrum of data. At the classroom, school, and district levels, data-driven reporting is crucial. Reports allow educators to track progress, identify trends, and make informed decisions about instructional adjustments. Clear and easily shareable data keeps all stakeholders informed.

    Early 

    Early academic intervention is key to addressing learning difficulties before skill gaps grow. Catching learning struggles early—especially in reading and math—is one of the most powerful tools teachers have to change student outcomes. Early academic intervention, grounded in observation and formative assessment, helps prevent small skill gaps from becoming lasting barriers.

    By identifying challenges in the early stages of education, teachers can implement targeted strategies that address foundational skills. Timely, targeted support can boost foundational skills, student confidence, and achievement. Short, focused lessons on specific skills can make a significant difference in preventing long-term academic struggles and lead to long-term academic success.

     

    Early Academic Intervention Checklist

    Grades K–5

    Take action early with the help of this tool. Clear, actionable steps and checkboxes to help you spot learning struggles early, reteach effectively, and collaborate with confidence.

    Download Now

    Flexible 

    Effective interventions are flexible, allowing educators to adjust instruction based on individual student needs while also fitting within existing intervention structures and delivery models.

    Flexibility features include built-in differentiation options that make it easier  to personalize learning without disrupting established routines. The best interventions can be tailored to student needs and implemented efficiently across different group sizes, schedules, and instructional settings.

    Transferable

    Skill transfer focuses on helping students apply what they've learned in real-world contexts.

    Effective academic Interventions emphasize active learning and problem-solving, ensuring that students can use new skills with practice and independently. This approach promotes long-term academic success.

    Blended

    Though teacher-led instruction remains the cornerstone of effective academic intervention, technology can enhance teaching and learning and offer benefits.

    Digital tools can support practice, assessment, and data collection. In a blended model, giving teachers the choice of how to implement instruction empowers them to use their professional judgment, selecting the tools and formats that best meet their students’ needs and classroom context.

    Data-Informed

    At the classroom, school, and district levels, data-driven reporting is crucial. Reports from assessments allow educators to track progress, identify trends, and make informed decisions about instructional adjustments for students, groups, and classes. 

    Collaborative

    Effective academic intervention relies on strong collaboration among educators, school leaders, and families. Collaboration between families, teachers, and administrators is a powerful partnership that benefits students. Clear, shareable data ensures all stakeholders are informed and aligned, helping to guide instruction and monitor progress with a school-wide intervention model. Leadership supports this by creating systems for communication, setting expectations, and ensuring intervention time is prioritized through thoughtful scheduling.

    Family engagement is also essential to the process. When families are active participants in an academic intervention plan, they can better support learning at home. Transparent communication and shared goals between school and home create a powerful support system for student success.

    Finally, professional development equips staff with the tools to interpret data and apply effective, research-based strategies. When educators work together with shared goals, intervention becomes more cohesive and effective.

State-of-Academic-Intervention

The State of Academic Intervention

Academic intervention is more important than ever as schools work to support a wide range of learners and to close persistent achievement gaps. To better understand how these efforts are taking shape both nationally and in today’s classrooms, we can look at the current state of academic intervention in our education system.

National Academic Intervention Trends

Recent data, including insights from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), highlight national trends in student performance. In many cases, students—particularly in math and reading—are struggling to meet grade-level expectations. This data underscores the importance of robust, evidence-based intervention programs to help close achievement gaps and support students at risk of falling behind.

What U.S. Teachers Report About Learning Interventions

Educators across the country have shared valuable insights into how K–12 schools are addressing academic challenges.

Among the findings:
  • Grade Levels with Highest Needs: Teachers identify the highest needs in both math and reading intervention in grades K–2, while administrators identify grades 6–8.
  • Challenges: A lack of time, resources, trained staff, and consistent assessment practices are often cited as barriers to effective intervention.
  • Strategies for Success: Successful programs often emphasize flexibility, ongoing assessment, professional development for teachers, and teacher collaboration.

State of K–12 Academic Intervention Infographic

Grades K–12

Gain a quick overview of the challenges, strategies, and impact of interventions in today's classrooms.

DOWNLOAD NOW

 

tiers-academic-intervention

Tiers of Learning Intervention

Two prominent frameworks for academic intervention are Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). These models provide structured pathways for identifying students' needs and delivering appropriate support at various levels:

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a three-tiered approach where students receive support based on their needs, starting with universal interventions and escalating to more intensive, individualized interventions.

  • Tier 1: Universal Instruction—All students receive high-quality, evidence-based instruction in the general education classroom. Teachers use regular assessments to monitor progress and identify students who may need additional support. The classroom teacher leads instruction at this tier.
  • Tier 2: Targeted Group Interventions—Students whose needs are not adequately met  by Tier 1 receive more targeted, small-group interventions. These interventions typically occur a few times a week and are often delivered by the classroom teacher or a reading or math specialist.
  • Tier 3: Intensive Individualized Interventions—For students who need additional support beyond Tier 2, Tier 3 offers more frequent and individualized instruction. Interventions at this level are highly specialized and may be delivered by interventionists, special education teachers, or other trained support staff.

MTSS builds on RTI, but integrates behavioral and social-emotional interventions. It emphasizes collaboration among educators, families, and specialists to ensure students receive comprehensive support and uses data-based decision-making to ensure that students’ needs are met holistically across all areas of development. 

effective-academic-intervention

Effective Academic Intervention

Learning interventions are targeted, systematic approaches designed to support students who need additional support. Whether in reading, math, or other subjects, an academic intervention aims to quickly bridge students’ individual learning gaps—providing students with the skills and confidence they need to progress. Effective academic intervention goes beyond simply offering remedial support; it engages and helps students take ownership of their learning. High-yield, impactful academic intervention includes must-have qualities to be successful. 

Best Practices in Academic Intervention

High-impact intervention strategies help educators identify students’ specific learning needs and provide focused, timely support to close skill gaps and accelerate academic growth. Effective intervention programs help cultivate learning environments where all students can advance toward grade-level proficiency.

To achieve successful outcomes, academic intervention programs must be:

  • Teacher-led and explicit, not solely dependent on technology.
  • Grounded in research and evidence-based practices.
  • Systematic and sequential, ensuring that lessons are consistent and structured to build on foundational skills  
  • Informed by regular, ongoing integrated assessments to guide instruction.
  • Administered early, as soon as skill gaps are identified. 
  • Flexible, allowing for adjustments based on individual student needs within existing structures and formats.
  • Focused on transferring skills, ensuring that students apply what they've learned.
  • Blended, offering options for digital and physical implementation to teachers.  
  • Collaborative, involving all key stakeholders and prioritizing clear communication for student success. 

Teacher-Led

One of the cornerstones of effective intervention is teacher-led instruction. This approach is more flexible, more responsive, and more personalized than automated or computer-driven solutions. Teachers can adapt their strategies in real-time, delivering targeted lessons that address specific learning gaps.

Effective intervention often involves explicit teaching routines, which ensure that students are engaged in direct, expert-led, focused instruction. Predictable routines provide structure, reduce uncertainty, and help students focus on learning.

These routines also support efficient use of time, minimize distractions, and reinforce academic behaviors through repetition. By combining structure with responsive teaching, teachers can deliver focused, high-impact instruction.

How to Make an Impact in Your Intervention Programs Webinar

Learn to plan lessons with high-yield instructional strategies that maximize student learning and incorporate engaging and entertaining instructional activities across content areas. 

Watch Now

 

Research- and Evidence-Based 

For academic intervention programs to be truly effective, they must be grounded in research and evidence-based strategies that are proven to yield positive learning outcomes for students.

Research-informed interventions ensure that the methods used are both effective and efficient, maximizing the impact of instructional time, avoiding  ineffective or outdated strategies, and boosting students' success.

Systematic 

Systematic academic interventions follow a clear and organized plan, focusing on one skill at a time. A systematic approach focused on key, isolated skills and series ensures that interventions are structured, targeted, and effective.

This approach ensures that interventions are not only responsive to individual student needs but also cohesive, efficient, and goal-oriented—maximizing the chances for meaningful, lasting academic improvement. 

Integrated Assessment

Effective academic intervention programs must be based on timely, actionable data. Assessment, therefore, plays a critical role.

Summative assessments provide a comprehensive view of student performance and long-term learning outcomes, helping to evaluate overall achievement and instructional effectiveness.

Formative assessments offer immediate, skill-specific feedback. Conducted regularly, they provide valuable information to guide instructional decisions and make real-time adjustments, ensuring interventions are tailored to each student’s needs. 

Mastering the Formative Assessment Data Cycle Playbook

Grades K–12

Turn formative assessment data into action with a resource that systematically walks teachers through a four-phase cycle and includes tips, tools, and examples to help collect, analyze, and act on student data with confidence.

Download Now

 

Summative assessments track long-term progress, while formative assessments provide the insights needed for responsive, targeted teaching to form a powerful, data-driven cycle for effective academic intervention.

Standards-based assessments help measure progress towards specific, measurable goals, ensuring that interventions are aligned with key education standards.

The integration of summative and formative assessments offers a full spectrum of data. At the classroom, school, and district levels, data-driven reporting is crucial. Reports allow educators to track progress, identify trends, and make informed decisions about instructional adjustments. Clear and easily shareable data keeps all stakeholders informed.

Early 

Early academic intervention is key to addressing learning difficulties before skill gaps grow. Catching learning struggles early—especially in reading and math—is one of the most powerful tools teachers have to change student outcomes. Early academic intervention, grounded in observation and formative assessment, helps prevent small skill gaps from becoming lasting barriers.

By identifying challenges in the early stages of education, teachers can implement targeted strategies that address foundational skills. Timely, targeted support can boost foundational skills, student confidence, and achievement. Short, focused lessons on specific skills can make a significant difference in preventing long-term academic struggles and lead to long-term academic success.

 

Early Academic Intervention Checklist

Grades K–5

Take action early with the help of this tool. Clear, actionable steps and checkboxes to help you spot learning struggles early, reteach effectively, and collaborate with confidence.

Download Now

Flexible 

Effective interventions are flexible, allowing educators to adjust instruction based on individual student needs while also fitting within existing intervention structures and delivery models.

Flexibility features include built-in differentiation options that make it easier  to personalize learning without disrupting established routines. The best interventions can be tailored to student needs and implemented efficiently across different group sizes, schedules, and instructional settings.

Transferable

Skill transfer focuses on helping students apply what they've learned in real-world contexts.

Effective academic Interventions emphasize active learning and problem-solving, ensuring that students can use new skills with practice and independently. This approach promotes long-term academic success.

Blended

Though teacher-led instruction remains the cornerstone of effective academic intervention, technology can enhance teaching and learning and offer benefits.

Digital tools can support practice, assessment, and data collection. In a blended model, giving teachers the choice of how to implement instruction empowers them to use their professional judgment, selecting the tools and formats that best meet their students’ needs and classroom context.

Data-Informed

At the classroom, school, and district levels, data-driven reporting is crucial. Reports from assessments allow educators to track progress, identify trends, and make informed decisions about instructional adjustments for students, groups, and classes. 

Collaborative

Effective academic intervention relies on strong collaboration among educators, school leaders, and families. Collaboration between families, teachers, and administrators is a powerful partnership that benefits students. Clear, shareable data ensures all stakeholders are informed and aligned, helping to guide instruction and monitor progress with a school-wide intervention model. Leadership supports this by creating systems for communication, setting expectations, and ensuring intervention time is prioritized through thoughtful scheduling.

Family engagement is also essential to the process. When families are active participants in an academic intervention plan, they can better support learning at home. Transparent communication and shared goals between school and home create a powerful support system for student success.

Finally, professional development equips staff with the tools to interpret data and apply effective, research-based strategies. When educators work together with shared goals, intervention becomes more cohesive and effective.

  • Math Intervention

    math-intervention-tcm

    Math Intervention 

    Effective math intervention relies on systematic, differentiated instruction that addresses foundational skills while supporting diverse learning needs and engaging students. Math intervention programs must ensure teachers can tailor and deliver lessons to individual student needs, whether they are struggling with basic operations or more advanced concepts.

    Best Practices in Math Intervention 

    In addition to following best practices for any intervention program as outlined on this page, math intervention programs must include specific elements that address the unique nature of mathematics learning. 

    Uses the C-R-A Method

    The Concrete-Representational-Abstract (C-R-A) method is a framework that engages students with manipulatives, pictorial models, and symbols and numbers to develop deep conceptual understanding. The flexible use of this framework helps students build conceptual understanding by first exploring mathematical concepts through hands-on manipulatives (concrete), then transitioning to visual models (representational), and finally solving problems using symbols and numbers (abstract). Using the C-R-A method makes math more accessible and meaningful. 

    Focuses on Procedural Fluency 

    Students need to solve problems accurately, efficiently, and flexibly. This includes practicing key operations and strategies until they can be applied confidently across various contexts. When fluency is combined with conceptual clarity, students are better equipped to solve complex problems and build higher-level mathematical reasoning. Procedural fluency ensures students gain accuracy and flexibility in their math skills.

    Encourages Math Discourse

    Effective math intervention programs provide opportunities for mathematical discourse. Encouraging students to discuss, explain, ask questions, and use precise mathematical language fosters deeper understanding and collaborative learning. Discourse allows students to engage more actively with the content as they use and reflect on different strategies and perspectives.

    Supports Metacognitive Strategies 

    Metacognition is especially important for struggling math students, who often rely on a narrow range of problem-solving strategies. Strong metacognitive skills are demonstrated by a student’s ability to plan an effective approach, monitor their progress, and adjust strategies when needed. However, developing these skills takes intentional support, guided practice, and consistent reinforcement over time.

     

    Metacognitive Math Prompts

    Grades K–8

    Build metacognitive awareness with the math-specific prompts in this printable resource. 

    Download Now

    By combining these elements with the broader best practices of effective intervention, math intervention programs can close skill gaps and set students up for lasting success in mathematics.

math-intervention-tcm

Math Intervention 

Effective math intervention relies on systematic, differentiated instruction that addresses foundational skills while supporting diverse learning needs and engaging students. Math intervention programs must ensure teachers can tailor and deliver lessons to individual student needs, whether they are struggling with basic operations or more advanced concepts.

Best Practices in Math Intervention 

In addition to following best practices for any intervention program as outlined on this page, math intervention programs must include specific elements that address the unique nature of mathematics learning. 

Uses the C-R-A Method

The Concrete-Representational-Abstract (C-R-A) method is a framework that engages students with manipulatives, pictorial models, and symbols and numbers to develop deep conceptual understanding. The flexible use of this framework helps students build conceptual understanding by first exploring mathematical concepts through hands-on manipulatives (concrete), then transitioning to visual models (representational), and finally solving problems using symbols and numbers (abstract). Using the C-R-A method makes math more accessible and meaningful. 

Focuses on Procedural Fluency 

Students need to solve problems accurately, efficiently, and flexibly. This includes practicing key operations and strategies until they can be applied confidently across various contexts. When fluency is combined with conceptual clarity, students are better equipped to solve complex problems and build higher-level mathematical reasoning. Procedural fluency ensures students gain accuracy and flexibility in their math skills.

Encourages Math Discourse

Effective math intervention programs provide opportunities for mathematical discourse. Encouraging students to discuss, explain, ask questions, and use precise mathematical language fosters deeper understanding and collaborative learning. Discourse allows students to engage more actively with the content as they use and reflect on different strategies and perspectives.

Supports Metacognitive Strategies 

Metacognition is especially important for struggling math students, who often rely on a narrow range of problem-solving strategies. Strong metacognitive skills are demonstrated by a student’s ability to plan an effective approach, monitor their progress, and adjust strategies when needed. However, developing these skills takes intentional support, guided practice, and consistent reinforcement over time.

 

Metacognitive Math Prompts

Grades K–8

Build metacognitive awareness with the math-specific prompts in this printable resource. 

Download Now

By combining these elements with the broader best practices of effective intervention, math intervention programs can close skill gaps and set students up for lasting success in mathematics.

  • TCM-Reading-Intervention

    Reading Intervention

    Reading intervention focuses on developing early literacy skills to ensure that students can decode and comprehend texts. Effective reading intervention relies on a systematic, differentiated approach that addresses the foundational skills of reading while supporting the diverse learning needs of students. By integrating the core principles of effective reading instruction, these programs help students build the essential skills needed to succeed as lifelong readers.

    In addition to following best practices for any intervention program as outlined on this page, reading intervention programs should include specific strategies that address the essential components of reading. 

    Best Practices in Reading Intervention

    In addition to following best practices for any intervention program as outlined on this page, reading intervention programs should include specific strategies that address the essential components of reading. 

    Incorporates Components of Reading 

    An effective reading intervention program incorporates the five key components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Teachers should be able to tailor the right reading intervention based on where students are in their literacy journey, from phonemic awareness to fluency. By systematically addressing each of these components, intervention programs provide a well-rounded approach to developing reading proficiency and offer differentiated, individualized strategies for students at varying levels of reading proficiency.

    Reading Components Intervention Tipsheet

    Grades K–5

    Identify reading gaps to apply targeted, research-based interventions with this quick-reference guide.

    Download Now

    Includes Rich, Relevant Texts

    To build content knowledge, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, reading intervention programs should offer a broad selection of rich and culturally diverse texts at the appropriate level for readers. A variety of text types allows students to encounter different genres, topics, styles, themes, and perspectives as they expand students' knowledge bases, introduce new vocabulary, and challenge them to think critically about different kinds of texts.

    Is Built on Reading Science

    The science of reading is a body of research that highlights evidence-based practices for teaching reading informed by cognitive science and educational research. This research emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction in decoding, fluency-building, and comprehension strategies, which are critical for an effective reading intervention program. Specific science-backed strategies help students understand, apply, and retain the material they read.

TCM-Reading-Intervention

Reading Intervention

Reading intervention focuses on developing early literacy skills to ensure that students can decode and comprehend texts. Effective reading intervention relies on a systematic, differentiated approach that addresses the foundational skills of reading while supporting the diverse learning needs of students. By integrating the core principles of effective reading instruction, these programs help students build the essential skills needed to succeed as lifelong readers.

In addition to following best practices for any intervention program as outlined on this page, reading intervention programs should include specific strategies that address the essential components of reading. 

Best Practices in Reading Intervention

In addition to following best practices for any intervention program as outlined on this page, reading intervention programs should include specific strategies that address the essential components of reading. 

Incorporates Components of Reading 

An effective reading intervention program incorporates the five key components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Teachers should be able to tailor the right reading intervention based on where students are in their literacy journey, from phonemic awareness to fluency. By systematically addressing each of these components, intervention programs provide a well-rounded approach to developing reading proficiency and offer differentiated, individualized strategies for students at varying levels of reading proficiency.

Reading Components Intervention Tipsheet

Grades K–5

Identify reading gaps to apply targeted, research-based interventions with this quick-reference guide.

Download Now

Includes Rich, Relevant Texts

To build content knowledge, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, reading intervention programs should offer a broad selection of rich and culturally diverse texts at the appropriate level for readers. A variety of text types allows students to encounter different genres, topics, styles, themes, and perspectives as they expand students' knowledge bases, introduce new vocabulary, and challenge them to think critically about different kinds of texts.

Is Built on Reading Science

The science of reading is a body of research that highlights evidence-based practices for teaching reading informed by cognitive science and educational research. This research emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction in decoding, fluency-building, and comprehension strategies, which are critical for an effective reading intervention program. Specific science-backed strategies help students understand, apply, and retain the material they read.

TCM Has the Academic Intervention Programs and Resources You Need for Math and Reading Success

At TCM, we believe that effective academic intervention should be systematic and easy to implement for teachers. Intervention programs should be flexible, teacher-led, and data-driven. And intervention programs should be fun, engaging, and empowering for students.

Our evidence-based programs and resources are systematic, with focus on teaching, assessing, reteaching, and practice–designed to support teachers and meet the diverse needs of students, providing the support they need to overcome academic challenges and achieve success.

Whether you're looking for a math intervention program, reading intervention program, or professional intervention support, TCM offers comprehensive solutions to help teachers and students thrive. 

TCM_Intervention_Resources_500x375

Featured Products

Check out more of our available resources

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Focused Mathematics Intervention

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Build fluency and support math growth with this flexible, research-based intervention program for all grade levels—ideal for classrooms, after-school, summer school, or other learning settings.
focused-reading-intervention

Focused Reading Intervention

K–5

Build literacy and boost reading skills with this targeted intervention program—featuring engaging texts, proven strategies, and flexible instruction to support struggling readers at every level.
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Summer Scholars

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Boost student success with engaging, standards-based lessons in math or ELA that build confidence and reduce teacher prep during summer learning. 
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Academic Intervention Success: A Whole-Child Approach to K–5 Achievement

PreK–2

Based on research and real-world practice, this guide offers a framework for building site-based intervention programs that support students’ academic, emotional, and developmental growth.