EPISODE 338

Stop playing academic whack-a-mole: A smarter way to support struggling students with the AIR Framework

Biggest Takeaways You Don't Want to Miss:
  • Most of what we call “intervention” is really remediation that happens after the fact. True intervention happens at the moment a student starts to struggle. 
  • The real reason teachers are exhausted isn’t workload—it’s rework. They’re fixing problems the right system could have prevented.
  • If we spent more time setting students up for success, we’d spend far less time trying to clean up when they fail. 
  • When intervention is reactive instead of proactive, it’s twice as hard and takes twice as long. 
  • If you wait for students to fail before your Tier 1 kicks in, it’s already too late. 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re playing academic whack-a-mole—chasing one struggling student after another—you’re not alone. Most teachers are trying hard, but their support is reactive.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to flip that script with a Student SUCCESS Plan that helps you spot problems early, act fast, and keep Tier 1 running smoothly. I’ll walk you through the simple process we shared in the Supporting Struggling Students Masterclass that’s already helping schools make support proactive instead of exhausting.

You’ll learn how to build a system that prevents failure before it happens—so your teachers stay focused, your students stay on track, and you finally get your time back #LikeABuilder. 

Check out these highlights:
  • Why most schools’ Tier 1 systems are quietly exhausting teachers and principals—and how to redesign yours so it gives energy back instead of draining it.
  • How the AIR Framework (Acceleration, Intervention, Remediation) helps you spot problems early, act fast, and prevent failure before it happens.
  • When to intervene so support feels seamless inside daily instruction rather than another “add-on” that steals time.
  • How to turn your teachers’ instinct to rescue students into a proactive plan that keeps every learner moving forward.
  • The simple mindset shift that turns Tier 1 from a reactive scramble into a sustainable system—like a Builder.
Links mentioned in this episode:

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