Are you a millennial holding tight to your skinny jeans, not quite ready to embrace the new trends? Or maybe you are on the opposite side of the spectrum, grabbing tape to try The Ceiling Challenge for yourself! A quick social media scroll will show that new trends and old classics are popping up daily, and K-12 education is no exception. Take a look at our list of MTSS “Ins” and “Outs” for 2024!
What's In & What's Out for MTSS in 2024
❌ What’s Out
✅ What’s In
Drowning in data
Relevant, visual data reporting
Building staff culture through jeans day and free pizza
Building staff culture through collective leadership
Behavior and SEL in silos
Collaborating to support the whole child
Admiring the problem during meetings
Data-driven meeting structures
Long staff meetings after school
Virtual and/or recorded staff meetings
Sit and get PD from a slide deck
Options and variety in professional learning: Microlearning, virtual/asynchronous learning, peer-led sessions, coaching
Accountability without the right resources or support
State and district leaders that align initiatives and provide practical tools
Tracking student growth on spreadsheets
Tracking growth on Branching Minds!
The Trends That We Love
Relevant, Visual Data Reporting
More isn’t always better, especially when it comes to understanding student progress! When we cast an overly broad net of data without a clear plan, we find ourselves strapped for time and resources. The “just right” amount of data provides clarity and clear next steps when presented in an understandable format. Using organized visuals to display data allows for quicker and more consistent decision-making within any meeting.
Did you know? The Branching Minds MTSS platform partners with student information and assessment providers to break down silos and provide teachers with one place to see across all critical data sets. Learn more >>
Data-Driven Meeting Structures
It’s easy to “admire the problem” rather than move to solutions when we gather to discuss student needs, but the last thing we need is to slow down the collaborative work and waste precious time. Design meetings that are solution-focused by developing team norms and following a problem-solving protocol to uncover the WHY and get to the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and HOW.
Did you know? The Branching Minds Insight Survey helps you streamline collaboration and proactively gather input ahead of time so that all stakeholders have a shared language and understanding when discussing the student’s learning profile. Learn more >>
Professional Development That Gets Results
Let's face it— professional development sessions often have a bad reputation. You know the drill: long, irrelevant presentations; endless slides; and the struggle to keep your eyes open. Adult learning shouldn’t be an unbearable experience for your staff! Provide options and opportunities such as personalized, bite-sized, focused content that fits busy schedules; virtual options that can be completed at one’s own pace; and in-person coaching that meets teachers where they are. Then, professional learning becomes accessible, engaging, and impactful for educators who already have their plates full to the brim.
💡Check out our Adult Learning Toolkit for more tips to elevate your Professional Learning.
Did you know? At Branching Minds, our Professional Learning team works closely with partners to craft customized professional developmentsolutions that align with their specific needs. Plus, we provide a virtual training hub along with in-person and online learning, letting educators progress at their own pace.Learn more >>
Conclusion
As we wave goodbye to outdated ideas and support best practices in MTSS for 2024, let’s focus on continuous improvement —it’s about making things work seamlessly for everyone involved.
Stay up-to-date with MTSS insight and resources straight to your inbox once a week! 📚
Melanie Gonzalez is the Social Media & Community Engagement Strategist for Branching Minds. She brings experience in digital media content strategy, social media management, online community building, multimedia development, and video storytelling. Melanie is passionate about fostering meaningful and diverse engagement and connecting educators with BRM resources to enhance their MTSS practices. Prior to joining Branching Minds, Melanie worked as a digital media coordinator and social media manager for Cabarrus County Schools, and a parent liaison at the school level.
Comments (0)