The Power of Intensives

Sally, a 4th grader, has always tried her best to keep up with her peers and has maintained grade level work. Her teacher has recently noticed that she is struggling more when reading unfamiliar words. Sally tends to look at the first few letters of the word she is trying to read and uses one that fits the context rather than decoding the actual word, what I like to call the “look and guess” technique. Her teacher recommends getting her tested, and the results show that Sally lacks phonological awareness specifically in her ability to identify and isolate sounds. She's proven to be a great sight reader, but as the demands of school increase, she needs to build her foundational skills within phonological awareness to be able to decode unfamiliar words and further her reading abilities. 

This is where an educational intensive comes in, offering targeted support to help Sally improve her reading skills and boost her confidence in the classroom without the added pressures of the school day. 

What is an Intensive?

An intensive is a focused approach that provides one-on-one instruction tailored to a student’s specific learning needs. This personalized method helps fill learning gaps, allowing a student to make larger gains than they might in a larger group setting. Vaughn et al., (2003) reported students receiving one-on-one instruction also made considerably larger gains than larger group instruction. An intensive aims to enhance fundamental skills, boost confidence, and foster a deeper understanding of core subjects. This break from the typical classroom setting allows for concentrated learning, ensuring that participants return to school with strengthened foundational skills and a renewed sense of academic empowerment. 

The Benefits of an Intensive

Personalized, Concentrated Learning: Specialists create individualized learning plans based on a student’s strengths and challenges. This targeted approach helps students progress steadily and builds their confidence. 

Using Evidence-Based Practices: Specialists utilize teaching methods and strategies that are backed by research and proven to be effective in supporting students with underlying learning difficulties. Research supports the effectiveness of intensive intervention. Torgesen et al. (2001) found that increased instructional time paired with well-designed instruction can benefit students with learning difficulties.

Consistent Monitoring: Specialists continuously track a student’s progress and adjust strategies and programs as needed to ensure they receive the right support. 

Confidence Boost: As a student experiences progress, their confidence in their abilities grows. This can lead to greater engagement in the classroom. 

Sally is just one small example of the difficulties students experience within the classroom. Intensives can be a game-changer for students like Sally. It provides the personalized, targeted support that a student needs to thrive academically and feel more confident in their abilities. Research suggests that students who receive intensive intervention improve and maintain their skills, becoming more confident learners both in and out of the classroom. This speaks to the transformative power of intensives.