ADAC’s Tier 1 Instruction Workshops help teachers and leaders strengthen core instruction so that more students can succeed without needing additional interventions. These offerings support schools in clarifying an instructional focus, defining what high-quality Tier 1 instruction looks like, and building a shared playbook of practices that can be implemented across classrooms.
The Case for Tier 1 (Core Instruction) Professional Learning
Why This Matters for Your School
Within MTSS, Tier 1 core instruction is the foundation: the universal instruction and supports that every student receives. When Tier 1 is strong, inclusive, and designed using UDL principles, most students can reach benchmarks in academic, behavioral, and social-emotional domains without relying heavily on Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. Focusing professional learning on Tier 1 gives schools a practical way to improve outcomes for all students while also reducing fragmentation and staff burnout from trying to “intervention our way out of weak Tier 1.”
Workshop focus and structure
Strengthen Core Instruction for Student Success
Tier 1 Core Instruction Workshops are customized to each school’s context, but typically:
- Support leaders in clarifying or refining an instructional focus statement grounded in data and aligned with school priorities.
- Introduce or deepen understanding of UDL as a core Tier 1 design framework and connect it to concrete classroom practice.
- Co-create an instructional playbook of high-leverage Tier 1 strategies (for example, questioning and wait time, timely and actionable feedback, and student ownership through success criteria) with clear quality indicators.
- Guide grade band teams to translate the instructional focus and playbook into lesson designs, routines, and supports in their own classrooms.
- Provide leadership coaching to sustain the work through walkthroughs and continuous improvement cycles.
If you don’t see the service you had in mind, please reach out. We are happy to develop and customize professional learning workshops to meet your needs.
Services and Delivery Methods
1
Tier 1 Leadership Workshops: Vision and Instructional Focus
Virtual
A series of 90-minute virtual sessions for the school leadership team to clarify instructional priorities, craft or refine an instructional focus statement, and connect that focus to Tier 1 quality indicators, using school data and staff feedback.
2
Tier 1 Instruction Workshop for Faculty
In-Person
An on-site session (3-Hour or Full Day) that revisits the school’s instructional focus and unpacks an instructional playbook of Tier 1 strategies, teachers co-develop quality indicators and identify concrete next steps for their classrooms.
3
Tier 1 Grade Band Workshops
Virtual
A series of 60-minute virtual sessions by grade band (K–2, 3–5, 6–8) focused on strengthening Tier 1 core instruction. Each session helps teachers apply the instructional focus and playbook strategies to real lessons, share artifacts, and refine supports based on student evidence.
4
Tier 1 Leadership Coaching and Capacity Building
In-Person and Virtual
On-site launch with collaborative analysis of current practice, followed by virtual coaching cycles to implement strategies and reflect using classroom evidence.
5
Tier 1 Learning Pathway
In-Person and Virtual
A structured 6-week or year-long progression for school leaders and faculty to strengthen core instruction and instructional leadership. The pathway includes an instructional program evaluation; virtual leadership workshops to clarify instructional priorities; in-person faculty sessions to co-develop Tier 1 strategies; grade-band virtual workshops to apply those strategies in real lessons; and ongoing leadership coaching to embed practices in school systems and support continuous improvement.
Interested in learning how our Tier 1 (Core Instruction) Workshops can support your school or diocese? Submit the form below and Dr. Julie Cantillon, Senior Vice President for Professional Learning, will be in touch shortly.
