Effects of RtI in Block Scheduling

For the first time at my campus, the third grade teachers (myself included)will departmentalize. Since we needed to accommodate all subjects and have extended time for math and reading instruction, I devised a block schedule for three of us with the fourth teacher doing RtI (Response to Intervention). This will allow the 3 teachers to have 1 1/2 hours each for math, reading, and writing instruction during the morning and early afternoon. During the last hour of school, students will return to their home room and have science/social studies instruction. RtI will be done on the same rotational basis as the core subjects. However, the students in need of intervention will be pulled out of the reading/math classrooms and sent to the 4th teacher for RtI.
Students in need of intervention will be identified immediately based on the prior year's grades, TPRI testing, STAR report, and the teachers' own observations. We (3rd grade teachers) will monitor the students' progress. If, at the end of the first 6 weeks, there is a lack of progress, we will discuss changes and implement them accordingly.
This will be the first time RtI will be done at my campus by a designated teacher within a departmentalized grade level. It is normally done in class by the students' homeroom teacher.
The purpose of this implementation was initially to accommodate our particular instructional needs. Once I devised the schedule, however, it became apparent that the schedule is very promising for us and our students - especially the at-risk! We are excited about this schedule and are positive it will result in an increase in student achievement! I'll keep you posted!