When is it appropriate to use each lesson mode available on the Skills Rainbow?

When you create and assign a Skills Rainbow lesson, you choose from three lesson modes. Each mode provides a different approach to help students grow:

• Assessment mode quickly identifies a recommended starting point (online activities only).
• Learning Target mode documents progress with student IEP goals or math learning targets. (online or printed activities).
• Reinforcement mode reinforces skill gaps or ensures skill retention with targeted skills practice (online or printed activities).

Deciding which mode to use for each lesson can depend on many factors, including the purpose of the activity, when the lesson occurs in an instructional unit, and how the data will be used.

Assessment Mode

What it does: Quickly identifies the starting point for each new learner.

• Student answers are assessed in real time.
  • When the student demonstrates proficiency, more advanced skills are presented
  • When the student cannot demonstrate proficiency, foundational (prerequisite) skills are presented

When to use it:

• To plan instruction at the beginning of a new TouchMath unit by gathering details on each student's current proficiency with the focus skill

Learning Target Mode

What it does: Generates a plan that includes online and print lessons that a student interacts with from a starting skill towards the goal.

• Teachers create an individual plan based on the student's Present Level of Performance (PLAAFP) and Math goal.
  • A starting foundation skill is identified
  • A target skill is determined based on the student's math plan or IEP
  • TouchMath generates a plan that includes each skill needed to reach proficiency with the target skill
• Online activities are automatically evaluated, and recommended next steps are displayed to inform teachers about next steps.
• Print activities can be uploaded and scored by the teacher
• The next skill is released by the teacher after reviewing student progress.

When to use it:

• To provide curriculum-embedded documentation on progress toward an academic goal or short-term objective

Reinforcement Mode

What it does: Delivers practice to reinforce previously learned skills or to measure skill retention.

• Teacher selects one or more skills on the Skills Rainbow for the student to practice (either online or with print activities)
  • Personalize parameters such as the range of numbers used in questions, language used, or visual cues available
• Online activities are automatically evaluated, and recommended next steps are displayed to inform teachers about next steps.
• Print activities can be uploaded and scored by the teacher
• The next skill is released by the teacher after reviewing student progress.

When to use it:

• To provide additional practice with a skill that the student struggled to show proficiency (When Review or Reteach is indicated as a next step)