Project CRISS at Larsen Middle School

Four years ago Larsen Middle School, as a part of their Comprehensive School Reform, chose Project CRISS (CReating Independence through Student-owned Strategies) as a way to encourage their students to become more involved in and excited about their learning. The focus of CRISS is to teach students ways to read, understand, organize and study material to support their learning. Students use CRISS strategies across grade levels and subject areas.  Larsen's commitment to the CRISS strategies can be seen throughout the school. 
 

A strategy students learn in reading class may also be a part of how they process information in science or math. Strategies they learn in seventh grade are not abandoned, but built on in eighth grade. The goal is to have the strategies become a part of a repertoire of learning tools the students can use for the rest of their lives. 

Larsen has seen improvement in their students learning and has made adequate yearly progress in reading for the last two years, due in part, to the CRISS strategies used throughout the school.  At this time Larsen is one of two CRISS demonstration sites in Illinois.

Following are descriptions of some of the strategies and samples of their use in reading, math, and special education classrooms at Larsen.  Classrooms throughout the school provide a backdrop for CRISS activities.

RAFT Strategy

Two Column Notes