Standards-Based Instructional Materials
Aims, Actions, Adaptations:
Workforce Development and
Standards-Based Instructional Materials
The Office of Mathematics and Science (OMS) consistently delivered a message to administrators and teachers using the Chicago Math & Science Initiative- or CMSI-endorsed elementary math and science instructional materials. That message was, “Implement these materials in the classroom as the authors intended.” The goals were to create a common vocabulary and understanding of the changes in instructional practices, to support truly systemic reform. Professional development workshops and in-school coaching aimed to prepare teachers to “implement with fidelity.”
The OMS named “implementation and support centers” at universities for specific district-supported mathematics and science curricula. Specifically, the University of Chicago’s Center for Elementary Math and Science Education became the support center for Everyday Mathematics, the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Institute for Mathematics and Science Education supported Math Trailblazers and Connected Mathematics, and Loyola University’s Center for Science and Math Education became the SEPUP science implementation and support center. These centers promoted a common language and understanding through the professional development they provided. For the high school science instructional materials, local universities (e.g., the Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University, or Northwestern University) became the implementation and support centers for the IDSs. The high school math IDSs took a different path and did not use local universities as support sites.
These institutions collaborated with the district to provide materials-specific, grade-specific, experience-level specific (new or experienced users) professional development for district leaders, teachers, and principals. Another section in this report describes in detail the professional development provided in support of these instructional materials.
In addition, CPS partnered with The Teachers’ Academy for Math and Science (a statewide not-for-profit) to train teachers in 2003-2004 Readiness schools. The professional development helped teachers understand the shift in teaching and learning that the CMSI was driving. Teachers also had the opportunity to use the four sets of CMSI-supported mathematics instructional materials, helping them select and eventually implement the materials in Readiness schools.
