Pyramid of Intervention What is the purpose of the Pyramid of Intervention?

For students that are struggling in their quest to learn, there are a number of interventions available through various educational channels. One of those interventions is the "Pyramid of Intervention" (POI), and according to professors with the University of South Florida, this pyramid is designed for children who need additional intervention to ensure their continuing development as learners. "A tiered intervention model is an excellent fit with the presumption" -- in the very important period of early childhood -- "that young children…" should be given learning opportunities that take place in the natural environment and in "inclusive settings" in order to meet their needs (Fox, et al., 2009).

Moreover, there has been a need for a particular intervention that addresses the social and behavioral issues young learners go through, and Fox explains that there is a "…substantial body of research that illustrates the detrimental effects" of "social emotional delay and challenging behaviors." And so to avoid delaying interventions that can help struggling young people get up to speed with their ability to learn and grow, the tiered framework of the pyramid model has been adopted by numerous educational systems. The POI is now fully recognized as a workable, effective model that provides what Fox calls "…guidance for the design and delivery of evidence-based interventions" which offers the child hope for future successes in school.

In the Canadian Journal of Education, Kathy Howery and colleagues explain that the POI administered...

Further, the POI in Alberta is set in motion because the school district is committed to "inclusive education"; also, the district understands the "power of teams" (Howery, 271). The author mentions three areas of support that the pyramid provides: a) positive behavior; b) "differentiation of learning"; and c) student access to relevant technologies and digital media (Howery, 271). The classroom teachers is "empowered" when he or she has the skills, knowledge and support system to be able to "…identify the authentic needs of students" and also to be able to offer specific instructions to those needs (Howery, 273).
How can the Pyramid of Intervention be developed for a school or district?

An understanding of the pyramid's structure should be presented for this paper in order to understand how the POI is actually developed. Tier 1 is an intervention for all students in the school. It is the base of the pyramid and in this tier the teacher is given the responsibility for: a) "nurturing and responsible caregiving" of the students; and b) developing partnerships with students' families and developing "collaborative relationships" among participating team members (Fox, 3). Nicholas J. Miller describes Tier 1 as "standards and evidence based," and can include whole group instruction, small group instruction, or "flexible" group instruction (Miller, 2008, p. 18).

Fox explains that Tier 2 (one level up from the base of the pyramid) involves "explicit instruction in social…