Greetings from the Instructional Support Team!       What is I.S.T.? Instructional Support Team (I.S.T.) is a success oriented program.  The mission of I.S.T. is to identify the needs of students experiencing difficulty in school and to provide the students with the academic, behavioral, and/or social strategies and support needed to be successful.     Who are members of the I.S. T. team? Our school team consists of the building principal, the student`s classroom teacher, the instructional support teacher, and the student`s parents.  Additional team members may include the school counselor, reading specialist, school psychologist, school nurse, speech and language clinician, and other classroom teachers.      How does a student receive I.S.T. services? Parents and teachers who are concerned about a student`s progress in school should discuss their concerns with each other first.  In most cases the classroom teacher recommends the student for I.S.T. services, however, parents can also request Instructional Support services.     How does the I.S.T. Process Work? I.S.T. is a 60 day process.  During the first 20 days, academic assessments and classroom observations are completed.  Parents, teachers, and the student are also interviewed at this time.  A summary report is developed which includes a goal for the student.  An I.S.T. meeting is held to share student information, brainstorm strategies, and develop an action plan.   Parents, as part of the team, are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate. The action plan is evaluated by the team during the 30 day intervention period.  A review meeting is then held to share the results of the action plan. If the student`s teacher  and parents report a positive change, the strategies are continued.  If the strategies are not successful, the action plan may have to be redesigned or the student may be referred for further assessment.       What are examples of possible goals? Improve reading or math skills Remain on-task Build self-confidence Improve peer relations Complete home or school assignments  Improve organization skills     What are the benefits of I.S.T.? Coordinate services within the school Assess student performance Provide peer support for teachers, staff  and parents to assist them in working effectively with students. Identify strategies and develop plans to help students succeed within their classrooms.   Our job is to help your child build a successful school experience!