About this episode

This episode breaks down the basics of MTSS and its importance for classroom teachers.

Episode 319: MTSS 101: What Every Teacher Needs to Know MTSS is one of those education acronyms that can quickly start to feel overwhelming. What does it all actually mean, and how does it fit together? What exactly is MTSS—and what does it mean for you as a classroom teacher? In this episode, Emily is breaking down the basics of MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) to help you understand what it is, why it matters, and how your everyday instruction fits into the framework. She also clears up one of the biggest misconceptions about MTSS: it's not a separate program just for struggling students. It's a framework designed to make sure every student gets the right level of support at the right time. You'll learn how Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 work together, why strong Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of an effective MTSS framework, and how data and progress monitoring can help you make better instructional decisions for your students. In this episode, you'll learn: What MTSS actually is and how it supports all students Why strong Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of an effective MTSS framework The key differences between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 support Why tiers should…

People in this episode

Host: Sara Marye

Guest: Emily

Topics covered

• MTSS
• education framework
• instructional support
• Tier 1 instruction
• data monitoring
• student intervention

Keywords

• MTSS
• Multi-Tiered System of Supports
• Tier 1
• Tier 2
• Tier 3
• instructional decisions
• student support
• data monitoring
• intervention
• learning gaps

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MTSS, Multi-Tiered System of Supports

More episodes of Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers

• Episode 323: Putting MTSS into Practice in Your Literacy Classroom · September 7, 2026 · 13 min
• [Listen Again]: The 3 Steps to Take This School Year If You’re Always Saying “I Wish I Had More Time” · August 31, 2026 · 29 min
• Episode 322: How to Support Struggling Readers Without Neglecting the Rest of Your Class · August 27, 2026 · 24 min
• [Listen Again] Dear Stellar Teacher: Our Phonics and Intervention Confessions (and What We Would Do Differently!) · August 24, 2026 · 21 min
• Episode 321: Differentiation vs. Intervention: What's the Difference? · August 20, 2026 · 13 min
• Episode 320: A Simple Framework for Your Tier 1 Literacy Instruction · August 17, 2026 · 11 min

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