Flavorful Foundations™ — RTI/MTSS Explained

Know the Product — RTI/MTSS Explained

Built for Every Tier.
No Supplemental Programs Required.

How Flavorful Foundations™ supports Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 instruction — and why districts don't need to purchase additional programs to fill the gaps.

The Framework

What Is RTI/MTSS?

RTI (Response to Intervention) and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) are frameworks used by schools and districts to deliver the right level of support to every student — from whole-class core instruction all the way to intensive intervention. Most districts require any curriculum adoption to demonstrate how it supports all three tiers. Flavorful Foundations™ does — with no add-ons required.

Tier 1

Core Instruction

All students — whole class

High-quality, grade-level instruction delivered to every student. This is the foundation — if Tier 1 is strong, fewer students need intervention. Approximately 80% of students should be successful at this tier.

Tier 2

Targeted Support

Students who need additional help

Supplemental, small-group instruction for students who need more than core instruction to meet grade-level benchmarks. Usually provided in addition to Tier 1, not instead of it. Approximately 15% of students.

Tier 3

Intensive Intervention

Students with significant gaps

Individualized, intensive instruction for students with significant skill gaps. Requires more time, smaller groups, and highly targeted instruction. Approximately 5% of students — but every program needs to account for them.

The FF Approach

One Curriculum. All Three Tiers.

Most programs are built for Tier 1 and leave districts scrambling to purchase separate intervention programs for Tiers 2 and 3. Flavorful Foundations™ is built to serve every tier within a single, cohesive system.

Tier 3 — Intensive Intervention~5% of students | Individualized, targeted skill-building

Tier 2 — Targeted Support~15% of students | Small-group, differentiated instruction

Tier 1 — Core Instruction~80% of students | Whole-class, grade-level FF curriculum

Tier 1

Core Instruction — The Full FF Curriculum

Where Flavorful Foundations™ starts and where it does the most work.

Flavorful Foundations™ is first and foremost a Tier 1 curriculum — designed to deliver high-quality, Science of Reading-aligned instruction to every student in every classroom, every day. When Tier 1 is this strong, fewer students fall into the intervention tiers.

The explicit, systematic structure of every FF lesson — grounded in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing — ensures consistent, research-backed instruction regardless of which teacher is delivering it. This is what districts mean when they talk about "fidelity at scale."

Every grade level, every unit, and every lesson is vertically aligned — so students build on the same frameworks from kindergarten through 12th grade, and teachers always know exactly where each student is in the progression.

What Supports Tier 1

Full K-12 standards-aligned curriculum
Explicit, systematic daily lesson structure
Six instructional frameworks — consistent K-12
Science of Reading–aligned phonics instruction
Fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing built in
Detailed Teacher Editions for every grade level
Instructional Kitchen™ PD — Seasoned to Serve™ track

Tier 2

Targeted Support — Built Into the Curriculum

Small-group differentiation without a separate program.

Most programs require districts to purchase a separate intervention program for Tier 2 students. Flavorful Foundations™ builds Tier 2 support directly into the curriculum through differentiated texts at three reading levels, targeted framework activities, and small-group instructional tools — all aligned to the same lesson content every other student is learning.

This matters for two reasons. First, Tier 2 students stay connected to grade-level content rather than being pulled to a completely different program. Second, teachers don't have to manage two separate curricula in the same classroom — everything comes from one system.

The Digital Kitchen's student progress tracking and dropdown filters make it easy for teachers to identify which students need Tier 2 support and quickly access the right differentiated resources.

What Supports Tier 2

Differentiated texts at three reading levels per lesson
Flavor Gaps™ — targeted cloze comprehension activities
Word Work Pantry™ — systematic vocabulary intervention
Small-group lesson structures in Teacher Editions
Chef's Counter™ progress tracking — identify who needs support
Chef's Chat™ — teachers get real-time differentiation guidance

Tier 3

Intensive Intervention — Individualized Within the System

Serving the students with the greatest need — without leaving the FF framework.

Tier 3 students need the most individualized, intensive instruction — and they need it delivered consistently and with fidelity. Flavorful Foundations™ supports Tier 3 through the most intensive application of its differentiation tools, combined with the explicit phonics and foundational skills instruction built into the curriculum from the ground up.

Because FF is grounded in Science of Reading principles — phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension — it addresses the foundational gaps that Tier 3 students most commonly present with. Teachers don't need to abandon the curriculum to serve these students; they intensify it.

The below-level differentiated texts, the Word Work Pantry™ vocabulary system, and the explicit Scoop-Stir-Sizzle™ comprehension scaffolds give teachers the tools to reach even the most significantly behind learners — all within the same instructional framework every other student is using.

What Supports Tier 3

Below-level differentiated texts — same content, accessible entry point
Explicit phonics and phonemic awareness built into K-3 curriculum
Word Work Pantry™ — systematic, intensive vocabulary instruction
Scoop-Stir-Sizzle™ — scaffolded three-level comprehension support
Intervention Pantry™ — structured grade-level intervention for Grades 3-12
Individual progress monitoring via Chef's Counter™ dashboard

The Differentiator

Complete on Its Own. Room to Grow.

Districts spend significant budget on supplemental intervention programs because their core curriculum doesn't cover all three tiers. FF covers all three within one system — and for students in Grades 3-12 who need structured, targeted intervention, the Intervention Pantry™ extends what's already there.

One Vertical Alignment K-12

Because FF uses the same six frameworks across every grade level, students who need intervention are never starting over in a foreign system. The framework is familiar — only the intensity and scaffolding change.

Differentiation Is Embedded, Not Added

Tri-level texts, small-group structures, and scaffold tools come with the curriculum — teachers don't have to find or purchase separate materials to differentiate. It's already there.

Science of Reading Covers the Foundations

The phonics, phonemic awareness, and fluency instruction built into FF's early grades directly addresses the foundational skill gaps most intervention programs target. FF gets there first.

Data Tools Identify Who Needs What

The Digital Kitchen's progress tracking tools mean teachers and administrators always know which students are at each tier — so they can deploy the right level of support without guessing.

Intervention Pantry™ — Structured Tier 2 and Tier 3 Support for Grades 3-12
For students in Grades 3 through 12 who need targeted intervention beyond what the core curriculum provides, the Intervention Pantry™ is the answer. Eight standalone grade-level books, each with six targeted shelves and 90 lessons per grade. The Flavor Gauge™ screener routes students to the right shelf based on their specific skill gaps — so intervention is precise, not generic. Designed to work alongside the core FF curriculum, not replace it. View the full Intervention Pantry™ overview →

Sales Tips

How to Talk About RTI/MTSS.

When a district asks "how does this support RTI/MTSS?" Don't just say "we're aligned." Be specific: "FF supports all three tiers within one system. Tier 1 is the core curriculum — explicit, systematic, Science of Reading-aligned instruction for every student. Tier 2 is built in through differentiated texts at three levels, Flavor Gaps, and Word Work Pantry. Tier 3 uses the same tools intensified — same framework, deeper scaffolding. And for Grades 3-12, the Intervention Pantry™ extends Tier 2 and Tier 3 support with 90 screener-routed lessons per grade level. You don't need a separate intervention program."

When a district asks about the Intervention Pantry™ "The Intervention Pantry™ is a series of eight standalone grade-level intervention books for Grades 3 through 12. Each book has six targeted shelves covering fluency, phonemic awareness, comprehension, vocabulary, writing mechanics, and phonological awareness. Students are routed to the right shelf by the Flavor Gauge™ screener — so teachers aren't guessing where the gap is. It works alongside the core curriculum, in the same framework students already know." Full details at /intervention-pantry.

When a district says "we already have an intervention program" "That's actually a common situation — and worth evaluating at renewal. A lot of districts are paying for separate intervention programs because their core curriculum doesn't go deep enough. When you have a Tier 1 curriculum built on Science of Reading principles with embedded differentiation, and an intervention series that routes students by screener directly to the skill gap — you often find you can consolidate. That's a budget conversation worth having."

When a curriculum director asks about fidelity data "The Digital Kitchen tracks implementation fidelity at the classroom, school, and district level — so curriculum directors and principals can see which teachers are using the differentiation tools, how students are progressing across tiers, and where additional support may be needed. It's not just a curriculum — it's a monitoring system."

When someone asks "what about students who are significantly below grade level?" "FF doesn't pull those students out of the curriculum — it meets them where they are within it. Below-level texts, intensive phonics scaffolds, and the Word Work Pantry give teachers the tools to serve even the most significantly behind learners without abandoning the framework every other student is using. And for Grades 3-12, the Intervention Pantry™ gives intervention teachers a structured, screener-routed program that works inside the same system. Consistency matters for those kids too."

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