In this six-page (trifold) laminated guide, authors Richard A. Villa and Jacqueline S. Thousandintroduce the “Schoolhouse Model” to explain and illustrate how joint implementation of co-teaching, differentiated instruction (DI) and Response To Intervention (RTI) fosters positive, inclusive learning environments in which all students can access the curriculum and all learners can succeed.

The schoolhouse model consists of five levels:

• A solid foundation of administrative leadership and support
• Collaborative planning and creative problem solving
• Co-teaching that pairs masters of content (general education teachers) with masters of access (special education teachers)
• Differentiated instruction, providing multiple pathways for accessing content and demonstrating learning
• Success for all students–the top level, or final goal– is achieved when all students can access the curriculum

A valuable pre-service training tool and/or in-service classroom resource for teachers, RTI:  Co-teaching & Differentiated Instruction outlines effective collaborative planning and problem-solving processes to support struggling students and those with disabilities and special needs. It includes helpful tools such as easy-to-follow checklists, templates and charts that teachers can use to ensure that the core curriculum is accessible to all students and that learning is taking place for all students.