5. Sam has been struggling to keep up with the rest of his fourth grade classmates in math the first six weeks of the third marking period. He did well during the first and second marking periods but seems to be struggling all of a sudden. The rest of the class appears to be making reasonable progress in terms of mathematical benchmarks in the standards-aligned curriculum, however Mr. Johnson (the fourth grade teacher) indicates that he fears Sam may fall further behind as more time passes and that this will not only hinder his development of mathematical skills in class. He would like to place Sam on Tier 2 – do you agree with this decision?

Question

5. Sam has been struggling to keep up with the rest of his fourth grade classmates in math the first six weeks of the third marking period.  He did well during the first and second marking periods but seems to be struggling all of a sudden.  The rest of the class appears to be making reasonable progress in terms of mathematical benchmarks in the standards-aligned curriculum, however Mr. Johnson (the fourth grade teacher) indicates that he fears Sam may fall further behind as more time passes and that this will not only hinder his development of mathematical skills in class.  He would like to place Sam on Tier 2 – do you agree with this decision?
Tier One
Tier Two

GPT-4o mini · Answer

In deciding whether to place Sam in Tier 2, it's important to consider several factors related to his current performance and the nature of his difficulties in math.

Response to Instruction: If Sam was doing well in the earlier marking periods but has suddenly started to struggle, it could indicate that he is facing specific challenges that need to be addressed. Tier 1 typically includes high-quality instruction that supports all students, while Tier 2 provides targeted support for those who are struggling.
Duration and Intensity of Struggles: Mr. Johnson's concerns about Sam falling further behind suggest that the issue may require more tailored interventions than what Tier 1 instruction can provide. If Sam's struggles are consistent over the last six weeks and there are indicators that he may continue to struggle, moving to Tier 2 would be appropriate.
Possible Underlying Issues: Understanding why Sam has begun to struggle is crucial. There might be external factors affecting his performance, or he could have gaps in foundational skills that are starting to impact his learning. Tier 2 interventions can help identify and address these specific areas.
Progress Monitoring: Tier 2 involves more frequent progress monitoring, which would allow Mr. Johnson and the support staff to track Sam's understanding and growth in math. This data-driven approach can help personalize his learning plan.

In conclusion, if Sam is indeed falling behind and his current Tier 1 support is not sufficient to help him catch up, I would agree with Mr. Johnson's decision to place Sam in Tier 2. This move would provide Sam with the additional help he needs to succeed and ensure that he does not continue to struggle in his mathematical development.