Small Group Reading Intervention: Preparation Planning Guide
Prepare small reading groups without the scramble: schedule passage selection, word cards, copies and setup as dated tasks before each session.
Use this checklist to prepare any RTI or MTSS intervention session, whether it’s reading, math or another area. It covers the five things every session needs: a plan, materials, a space, time and follow-up. Each item can become a scheduled task, so nothing depends on memory.
1. The plan
- Session focus confirmed against the group’s agreed plan
- Lesson or activity plan ready, following your school’s chosen program
- Any adjustments from last session’s follow-up included
- Group membership checked in your school’s approved system
Schedule as: “Prep – plan session for group A”, a day or more before.
2. Materials
- Texts, passages or problem sets chosen
- Copies made, with spares
- Manipulatives or cards gathered and sorted
- Reusable tools ready: whiteboards, markers, timer, pencils
- Shared resources reserved or collected
Schedule as: separate tasks one to two days before, especially copying. See splitting prep into small tasks.
3. The space
- Room or table confirmed, and booked if shared
- No clash with testing, assemblies or other events that day
- Seating and materials laid out before students arrive
Schedule as: a booking task when you plan the week, plus setup inside your transition time.
4. Time
- Session date and start time correct in your schedule
- Enough transition time before it (see transition time)
- Classroom teacher aware of the time, if you collect students
- Priority set: sessions are usually High
5. Follow-up
- Same-day task to record delivery in the approved system
- Task to reset materials
- Any updates to colleagues scheduled
See session follow-up planning for more.
The checklist as tasks
| When | Task | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days before | Prep – plan session and choose materials, group A | High |
| 1 day before | Prep – copy and sort group A materials | High |
| Session day | T2 – Reading fluency group A (Room 12) | High |
| Same day | Follow-up – log delivery and reset folder | Medium |
A privacy check
Before saving any task, make sure it contains no student names, initials, scores or health details. Your checklist tasks should describe actions and places, never students. Read how to write safe planning notes.
Printable quick version
- Plan: focus confirmed, lesson ready
- Materials: chosen, copied, gathered
- Space: confirmed, no clash, set up
- Time: correct, buffered, prioritized
- Follow-up: record, reset, update
Put this into your week
Add the sessions and prep tasks from this guide to the free RTI Scheduler. No signup needed to start.
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