For this post, you may choose one of two options and respond appropriately. In the subject line of your post, indicate which of the two options you chose.

OPTION 1

Monday morning at 8:45, Mrs. Luna smiled at her sixth-grade students as they entered the classroom.
Johnny was returning to school after a weekend of camping with his dad. Johnny, the student leader for the class that morning, was an excellent student and a friend to everyone in class. He was never a problem, teachers loved having him in class, and students liked him.

It had been Johnny's birthday over the weekend, and he had been given a new Leatherman OHT multitool. He was so proud and excited! He had used the Leatherman over the weekend as often as possible and had inadvertently stored it in his backpack during the camping trip. Unfortunately, since he also used this backpack for his school books, he had forgotten to take it out before heading to school.

At lunchtime, as he was opening his backpack, he realized his Leatherman was still in the front zipper pocket. He pulled it out and displayed the tool, and its amazing functions, to the other students at his table; after all, it was his new birthday present. One of the students told the teacher on lunchroom duty that Johnny had a knife. The teacher went straight to the principal to report the accusation. Upon receiving the report, the principal had no choice but to search Johnny's backpack. She found the Leatherman, which, by school policy, was defined as a weapon. Because of the school's zero tolerance policy, Johnny was subsequently suspended and, after a hearing, expelled from school. Mrs. Luna was heartbroken.

Before preparing your response, be sure that you have read these assigned readings:

• Hunter Spanjer, 3-Year-Old Deaf Boy, Told By Preschool To Change Way He Signs His Name (Dicker, 2012)

Reflect on these readings and compose an analysis of your perspectives by addressing the following questions:

• What is your view of the zero tolerance policy?

• Have we taken this policy too far? Explain.

• Where would you draw the line?

• What are your options as a teacher?

• How has the zero tolerance policy changed since its original implementation? What are the benefits? Drawbacks?

• If you are currently teaching, how does the zero tolerance policy work at your school?

Support your statements with evidence from the Required Studies and your research. Cite and reference your sources in APA style.

OPTION 2

Before preparing your response, be sure that you have read and watched the following:

• What Is RTI and What Are the Essential Components That Must Be Present? (American Institutes for Research, n.d.)

• Tiered Instruction and Intervention in a Response-to-Intervention Model (Shapiro, n.d.)

• How Does the RTI Framework Intersect with the Common Core State Standards Initiative? (Waite, 2012)

For this option, you will respond to one of the following questions.

• What are the implications of Response to Intervention in your classroom or, if you are not currently teaching, in your local school?

• What are the challenges you see in using RTI in your school or classroom?

• Name 10 positive and 10 negative issues regarding RTI. Choose one issue and write 2 paragraphs explaining the issue.

• How do you (or will you) implement RTI into your classroom?

Support your statements with evidence from the Required Studies and your research. Cite and reference your sources in APA style.

References

American Institutes for Research. (n.d.). What is RTI and what are the essential components that must be present? Retrieved from http://www.rti4success.org/video/what-rti-and-what-are-essential-components-must-be-present

Jensen, R. (2013, June 7). Jensen: Nebraska school officials want boy named ‘Hunter' to change his name.Retrieved from http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/2013/06/07/jensen-nebraska-school-officials-want-boy-named-hunter-to-change-his-name/

Shapiro, E. (n.d.). Tiered instruction and intervention in a response-to-intervention model. Retrieved fromhttp://www.rtinetwork.org/essential/tieredinstruction/tiered-instruction-and-intervention-rti-model

Waite, W. (n.d.). How does the RTI Framework intersect with the Common Core State Standards Initiative?[Video]. Retrieved from http://www.rti4success.org/video/how-does-rti-framework-intersect-common-core-state-standards-initiative