Preparer: Sharon L. Townsend
(Presented as an example for CIEP 491 with permission from author)
WWW site Address: http://www.luc.edu/schools/education/csi.htm
WWW site Title: Chicago Systemic Initiative - a site for math and science resources
CSI consists of a list of suggestions and resources for parents and educators, lesson plans for teachers, and software for childrens' use. This information can be found under the following CSI Pages: Math Education, Kids Web, Math Software, and the CSI Bibliography. I'll begin my review of the CSI by discussing the Math Education Page.
The Math Education Page offers teachers an opportunity to explore lesson plans and teaching methods written by other teachers across the United States. I found the Interactive Math Program and the Geometry Learning Project particularly interesting. The Interactive Math Program (IMP) and the Geometry Learning Project (GLP) offer students an opportunity to explore math without using the traditional pencil, paper, and book method. Students enrolled in the IMP and GLP are problem solvers. They are given a question/problem at the beginning of the term. They solve the problem by using algebraic, statistical, and geometric logic. The age old question of, "How will I ever use Algebra/Geometry in my every day life ?," is no longer an issue for the students enrolled in these programs; because, they are using Algebra ( among other things) to solve real life situations.
The Kids Web Page and the Math Software Page offer more opportunities for children to explore math in non-traditional ways. Children are encouraged to correspond with pen pal to discuss problems/solutions particular to their math needs, create and solve math riddles and puzzles, learn new math skills, as well as review basic math facts. For younger children, the Kids Web Page and the Math Software Page introduce math concepts like Calculus, Statistics, and Geometry. These concepts, traditionally associated with high school level students, are now being introduced to younger children. Exposure to higher level concepts before reaching high school alleviates the pressure and anxiety associated with solving higher level math problems.
The Bibliography Page, I think, is a tremendous resource for elementary school teachers. Most elementary school principals are encouraging teachers to use thematic unit, as opposed to teaching isolated subjects. Any teacher knows that the basis of any good thematic unit is literature. Literature relating two subjects (i.e., math and science) are hard to find, but a must for any thematic unit. My students and I are currently studying sea mammals in Science. While reviewing the CSI Bibliography Page I came across a book entitled Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is ?. This book relates two topics I'm teaching, sea mammals in Science and comparing numbers in Math. If teachers, like myself, have access to CSI, they could save themselves a lot of leg work, because CSI has crossed referenced math skills with other related subjects.
CSI is a terrific resource; however, I found that some of the games and lesson plans directed for classroom use did not take class size into consideration. Most elementary school classes in Chicago Public and Archdiocesan Schools on the average have thirty of more students. The set-up of some of the instructional material given in CSI would cause havoc in a class of more than twenty. For example, the suggested games for Math Awareness Week '97, only involve two students actively participating at one time; games played in larger classes should have more than two children participating at once, in order to keep the entire class focused on the game.
On a more positive note, the CSI Parents' Page is an excellent resource for parents. In lieu of more and more children being tested for learning and behavior disabilities, the Parents' Page lists what rights parents and children with learning disabilities legally possess. Also, with more emphasis on standardized test score in the Chicago Public Schools, the Parents' Page discusses why tests are important; as well as what a child's score means. The Chicago Public Schools recently issued a new homework policy stating how many minutes/hours each grade should receive (e.g., Kindergarten is to receive 45 minutes of homework each night.) The CSI Parents' Page addresses the importance of homework, and more importantly which types of homework assignments are appropriate.
CSI is an excellent resource for parents and educators, and a wonderful asset to any student who studies math. Although CSI may not have the perfect solution to all math needs, it is a resource worth having in any home or school.