South Cook Logo

Home  Catalog  |  REGION 7 Link  |  R.I.S.E.  |   SSoS  |  Squeeze 'N Reads™  | 

New Principal Mentoring  |  SCMI  |   SCDistricts  |  Illinois Agencies  | 

Workshops  |  Board   |   Employment  |  Contact Us  | 
Map  |  TSACG  | 

 


 

SOUTH COOK MATHEMATICS INITIATIVE (SCMI)

A partnership among 22 south Cook County districts to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in grades six through nine.

Support for SCMI is provided by the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, in partnership with the South Cook Intermediate Service Center (South Cook ISC) and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Learning Sciences Research Institute. Learning Sciences Research Institute.

GOALS OF THE PROJECT

  • Establish a community of school districts and practitioners in South Cook County that works together on mathematics improvement.

  • Develop joint solutions to commonly held problems involving the preparation for algebra in the middle grades and the teaching of algebra in 8th and 9th grades. 

  • Strengthen the districts’ capacity to support improved mathematics instruction and retain highly qualified staff. 

  • Support a range of mathematics improvement activities as part of a common, comprehensive mathematics initiative among participating districts. 

  • Improve student outcomes and success in mathematics.

PROJECT PARTNERS

  • South Cook Intermediate Service Center

  • Twenty-two participating south Cook County districts

  • University of Illinois at Chicago Learning Sciences Research Institute (LSRI)

  • The Chicago Community Trust

PARTICIPATING DISTRICTS

2010-2011 ACTIVITIES

BUILDING MATHEMATICS LEADERSHIP CAPACITY

Designed to develop a cadre of administrators and mathematics leaders who are prepared to promote improved, coherent policies and programs within and across participating districts.  

  • District Leads Planning Network
    2010-2011: May, September 17, November 19, February 4, and May 6  

  • District Leadership Teams - Participating districts continue or establish a Mathematics Leadership Team and meet quarterly.

  • Mathematics Institute for Administrators and Instructional Leaders
    2010-2011: June or August, October 5, November 19, 30 and January 18

  • TEACHER ENHANCEMENT – BUILDING TEACHER CAPACITY AND LEADERSHIP TEACHER CAPACITY AND LEADERSHIP

    Designed to build teacher leadership capacity, strengthen teachers’ knowledge of mathematics and of the teaching and learning of mathematics.  

  • Summer Teacher Professional Development - July 2010

  • University Courses- current information in PDF document
    August 2010, January 2011 and new course begins May 2011

  • Teacher Leadership Academy
    July 2010           September 30, October 1,2

    November 4-6    January 13-15
    April 7-9            May 5-7

  • Accessibility Workshop - current information in PDF document
    March 15, April 6 and May 11

  • Leadership Coaching - provided for designated Teacher Leaders throughout the school year.

  • MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION

    • Intensified Algebra 1 Field Test - additional information in PDF document
      Some districts are participating in the 2010 - 2011 field test of Intensified Algebra 1. In addition to a rigorous mathematics core, Intensified Algebra 1 addresses the social, affective, linguistic, and strategic cognitive and metacognitive dimensions of learning mathematics.

    • Transitions to High School
      Districts will continue or establish articulation teams that provide the opportunity for high school and elementary leadership teams to collaborate and discuss issues related to transitions from middle school to high school.

    BUILDING REGIONAL AND DISTRICT MATHEMATICS LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND COLLABORATION

    • Advisory Board - project guidance and district leadership

    • District Leads Planning Network - networking among district leads, guidance for project planning for District Leadership Teams

    • District Leadership Teams - driving district mathematics improvement and supporting implementation

    • District Mathematics Leadership Team Institute - professional development to support cross - district collaboration and articulation.
      June 8-9 OR June 13-14 OR August 3-4

    • Mathematics Institute for Administrators and Instructional Leaders - professional development to support a community of administrators and instructional leaders focused on improving mathematics teaching and learning
      New Administrators: Proposed - Summer July 28-28
      School Year: September and February

    • Articulation - middle grade to high school articulation

    TEACHER ENHANCEMENT - BUILDING TEACHER CAPACITY AND LEADERSHIP

    • Summer Teacher Professional Development - current information in PDF document
      June 22, 23, 24 OR June 29, 30, July 1 OR July 27, 28, 29 OR August 8, 9, 10

    • University Courses - current information in PDF document
      Teaching Alegra for Understanding Course begins May 10, 2011
      New Course begins August 30

    • Teacher Leadership Academy - professional development to develop capacity of teacher leaders September, November, January and March

    • Professional Development for Newly Participating Teachers
      Four half days during the year - October, November, January and May
      Ongoing collaboration in schools with teacher leaders and SCMI coaches

      Leadership Coaching - throughout the school year.

    HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENTS

    • Implementation of MARS tasks - implementation of MARS tasks as assessments and activities and of re-engagement of lessons

    • Accessibility professional development - professional development to build the capacity of teachers to meet the needs of diverse learners

    • ELL professional development - professional development to build the capacity of teachers to meet the needs of English language learners

    • Curriculum review - instructional materials review to evaluate connections and alignment to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

    • Intensified Algebra I implementation - field test of Intensified Algebra I, designed as a rigorous Algebra I course addressing the social, affective, linguistic and strategic cognitive and metacognitive dimensions of learning mathematics

    For additional information send email to scmi@s-cook.org or contact Mary Jo Tavormina at (312) 996-8763
    © 2010 SCISC. All rights reserved.