As part of the external evaluation of the Chicago Math and Science Initiative (CMSI), CEMSE is developing a series of on-line questionnaires and logs to assess how much mathematics instruction students in grades 1-5 are receiving, and the degree to which that instruction is consistent with the two CMSI-approved curricular series for mathematics: Everyday Mathematics and Math Trailblazers. When completed, these instruments will be of use in assessing the implementation of these CMSI-approved materials in grade 1-5 classrooms in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
During 2006-2007, CEMSE developed and tested on-line daily lesson logs where a teacher using Everyday Mathematics could record in detail how they used Everyday Mathematics to teach math. 92 CPS teachers completed over 500 daily lesson logs, responding to questions about whether they used specific activities or routines, how long they took, what grouping strategies and materials they employed in conducting them, and to questions about schedule changes and classroom interruptions. The on-line log questions were generated based upon a database of lesson contents compiled from Everyday Mathematics; many questions drew specific lesson and activity names from the same database. A parallel questionnaire was developed and tested which asked teachers using Everyday Mathematics similar questions regarding their most recently taught math lesson. A new version of this log, developed for Everyday Mathematics 3rd Edition, will be used to gather implementation data in the CPS Restructured Schools Support project in 2007-2008.
A similar log and questionnaire, developed to assess the implementation of Math Trailblazers, were also developed during 2006-2007. They will be tested and refined during the 2007-2008 project year.