Why We Created Resource Teacher's Guide: Helping Every Student Find a Path to Success
Every Student Can Learn. Sometimes They Just Need a Different Path.
Have you ever sat down with a student, explained a concept several different ways, and watched them continue to struggle?
You know they’re capable of learning. You know they want to succeed. But something isn’t connecting.
So you try another strategy. You search for different materials. You break the lesson into smaller pieces. You spend your planning time creating something that might finally help.
And when the student finally understands?
That’s why we teach.
Unfortunately, finding the right materials to create those moments isn’t always easy.
Too often, educational resources are designed for students who can learn a skill after a few explanations and a little practice.
But what about the students who need more?
More modeling. More repetition. Smaller steps. Additional support. A different pace.
Those students deserve instruction designed with their needs in mind.
That’s why we created Resource Teacher’s Guide.
Built by Teachers Who Understand the Resource Classroom
We’re Shonnee and Jenny, the educators behind Resource Teacher’s Guide (RTG).
Between us, we have more than 25 years of experience in general education, special education, and supporting other teachers.
We’ve taught students with learning disabilities. We’ve worked in resource classrooms. We’ve helped other educators navigate the challenges of providing specialized instruction.
And we’ve experienced the same frustration many teachers face:
Finding teaching materials that truly meet students where they are.
There are countless educational resources available. But finding something that provides a clear instructional sequence, appropriate scaffolding, meaningful practice, and useful progress monitoring can be surprisingly difficult.
Sometimes a resource is too advanced.
Sometimes it moves too quickly.
Sometimes it assumes students have mastered foundational skills they haven’t actually learned.
And sometimes, the materials simply require more preparation than a busy teacher can reasonably manage.
We wanted something different.
We wanted teaching resources that were straightforward, thoughtfully structured, and flexible enough to meet the needs of real students in real classrooms.
So we started creating them.
Our Philosophy: Small Steps Lead to Big Progress
At RTG, we believe effective instruction starts with understanding what students already know and identifying the next skill they’re ready to learn.
For students who struggle academically, the path forward isn’t always about working harder or completing more worksheets.
Often, it’s about finding the missing step.
Maybe a student struggles with reading because they haven’t mastered an earlier phonics skill.
Maybe writing a paragraph feels impossible because the student hasn’t learned how to organize a complete sentence.
Maybe a math concept is confusing because a foundational skill was never fully understood.
When we identify those gaps, we can teach with greater purpose.
That’s why our resources emphasize three important principles.
1. Explicit, Direct Instruction
We believe students benefit from instruction that clearly shows them what to do and how to do it.
Rather than leaving students to figure everything out independently, our materials provide structured teaching opportunities, modeling, guided practice, and clear expectations.
2. Scaffolding That Builds Independence
Learning shouldn’t feel like jumping from the bottom of a staircase to the top.
We break complex skills into smaller, manageable steps.
Students practice each part of a skill and build on what they’ve already learned.
As their understanding grows, support can gradually be reduced.
The goal isn’t to keep students dependent on assistance.
The goal is to give them the foundation they need to become more independent learners.
3. Instruction Guided by Student Progress
Every student learns at a different pace.
A lesson sequence should provide direction without forcing every student to move forward at the same speed.
We believe teachers need meaningful ways to monitor progress, recognize gaps, and determine when students are ready for the next step.
Our goal is to create materials that support those instructional decisions rather than replace the teacher’s professional judgment.
What You’ll Find at Resource Teacher’s Guide
Our resources are designed to make targeted instruction easier to plan, teach, and monitor.
We focus on four main areas.
Reading Resources
Foundational reading skills are essential, but some students need additional instruction and repeated practice before those skills become automatic.
Our reading resources focus on structured, scaffolded instruction that helps students build skills step by step.
For example, our RTG Reading Intervention series includes explicit lessons, teacher guidance, student practice, and tools for tracking progress.
Writing Resources
Writing can be overwhelming for students who struggle to organize their thoughts, form sentences, or understand how the different parts of writing fit together.
Our writing resources focus on breaking the writing process into teachable components.
Rather than expecting students to produce a complete piece of writing before they’ve learned the individual skills, we emphasize clear instruction, guided practice, and gradual skill development.
Math Resources
Math difficulties often build when students move to new concepts without mastering the skills that came before them.
Our goal is to provide materials that support foundational understanding, targeted practice, and a clear progression of skills.
Student Supports and Progress Monitoring
Good instruction depends on knowing what students understand and what they need next.
We also offer resources designed to help educators monitor student progress, organize instructional information, and make informed teaching decisions.
Designed for Special Education. Useful for Every Learner Who Needs More Support.
Resource Teacher’s Guide began with the needs of special education teachers.
That’s our foundation, and it will always be an important part of who we are.
But we’ve learned something through our years in education:
Students who need explicit instruction and scaffolded learning aren’t found only in special education classrooms.
They’re everywhere.
For Special Education Teachers
We understand the demands of providing individualized instruction while managing multiple groups, skill levels, IEP goals, and progress-monitoring responsibilities.
Our resources are designed to help you spend less time creating materials from scratch and more time providing meaningful instruction.
For General Education Teachers
Every classroom includes students with different learning needs.
Some students need reteaching. Others need additional practice or a more structured approach to a skill.
RTG materials can support small-group instruction, intervention blocks, targeted reteaching, and differentiated practice.
You don’t need to be a special education teacher to use a resource built around clear instruction and manageable learning steps.
For Homeschool Families
Teaching your own children comes with unique rewards and challenges.
When a child struggles with a concept, it can be difficult to know where to begin or how to explain the skill differently.
Structured lessons, teacher directions, and scaffolded practice can help parents provide more focused instruction at home.
Our goal is to make learning materials approachable for educators and families who want a clear path forward.
We Believe Teaching Materials Should Make Your Job Easier
Teachers already have enough on their plates.
We don’t believe a resource should require hours of cutting, laminating, organizing, or figuring out how to teach the lesson before it becomes useful.
Whenever possible, we aim to create materials that are practical, clearly organized, and ready to use.
We also recognize that no single program or resource will meet every student’s needs.
Teachers know their students best.
Our job is to provide a strong instructional starting point that educators can adapt based on student performance and individual needs.
We’re not trying to replace good teaching. We’re trying to make good teaching easier.
Why We Share New Resources for Free
We know what it’s like to find a promising teaching resource and wonder whether it’s worth spending your limited classroom budget.
We also know how often teachers spend their own money trying to help students succeed.
That’s one reason we offer every new RTG product for free during its first 24 hours after release.
We want teachers to have opportunities to explore our materials, see how they’re structured, and decide whether they’re a good fit for their students.
You can follow our Teachers Pay Teachers store to stay informed about new resources.
Our Mission: Make Meaningful Learning More Accessible
At the heart of Resource Teacher’s Guide is a simple belief:
Students deserve instruction that meets them where they are and helps them move forward.
We believe in celebrating small victories, building strong foundations, and giving students opportunities to experience success.
We believe teachers deserve practical resources that respect their time, experience, and professional judgment.
And we believe that when instruction is clear, intentional, and appropriately scaffolded, more students have opportunities to grow.
Whether you’re a special education teacher, a general education teacher, an interventionist, or a homeschool parent, we’re glad you’re here.
We hope Resource Teacher’s Guide becomes a place where you can find the tools, support, and encouragement you need to help your students take their next step.
Because every step forward matters.
Find the Right Resources for Your Students
Explore our Reading, Writing, Math, and Student Supports collections, or visit our Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Created by teachers. Designed for meaningful progress.