A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience Approved by PEP for all students in grades 4-12.

Description CReating Independence through Student-owned Strategies (Project CRISS) is designed to help students learn more effectively throughout the curriculum. Project CRISS focuses on teaching students how to learn through reading, writing, talking, and listening. Students learn to apply CRISS strategies in all subjects. The program focuses on the following areas:

• Principles and philosophy of learning.
  
• Identifying the author's craft and design.
  
• Understanding patterns and structure.
  
• Discussion--the conversation of learning.
  
• Active strategies for learning--generating background knowledge, concept mapping, free-form mapping, and summarizing.
  
• Organizing for learning--notes, charts, and story plans.
  
• Informal writing to learn--learning logs.
  
• Formal writing to learn--reports and essays.
  
• Authentic assessment strategies.

Project CRISS offers creative and motivating strategies for students in the regular classroom, and, in addition, is effective with special needs and "at-risk" students. The program assists teachers and students in integrating curriculum, and it is an invaluable tool for collaboration among teachers.

During the two-day training, participants have an opportunity to learn and practice the various reading and writing strategies using narrative and expository selections. Time is built into the training for teachers to develop learning activities with their own curriculum materials. No additional equipment or materials are required for the program to be successfully implemented.

Evidence of Effectiveness Students (grades 4, 6, 8, and 11) participating in Project CRISS demonstrate significantly greater gains (p<.001) in the retention of subject specific information than comparable nontreatment students when assessed by a free recall technique. Information measures also indicate that Project CRISS students apply more effective learning strategies on their own. In 1985, the JDRP validated Project CRISS as an effective, replicable program for grades 10-12; Project CRISS was revised and revalidated for grades 4-12 in 1993, based upon its continued excellence and effectiveness.

Requirements Project CRISS can be implemented by a district, school, or single classroom teacher; no special facilities or materials are necessary. Teachers and administrators participate in a two- or three-day inservice. An on-site program director is named to work with CRISS staff to develop an implementation plan for the adopting district. The district agrees to provide information on the extent and quality of implementation.

Costs Training costs consist of a per participant fee for training and materials plus the trainer's travel expenses, which are usually negotiated between the adopting district, Project CRISS, and the State Facilitator for NDN programs.

Services Awareness materials are available at no cost. Project staff and certified trainers are available to present awareness and training workshops. Visitors are welcome at the Project site or at any of the five national demonstration sites. Materials (including a 250-page training manual) are provided for each participant as part of the training. Implementation, follow-up, and evaluation services are available to adopters. Costs for all services are negotiable.

Contact

Project CRISS, 200 1st Ave. East, Kalispell, MT 59901, 406-758-6440, fax: 406-758-6444, e-mail: criss@digisys.net

Developmental Funding: Title IV-C.
JDRP No. 84-7R (2/26/85)
Recertified (3/1/93)

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