Schools ‘cube’ effort in Math, Science – Rock Island-Milan District uses $2M grant to help students

    Dawn Neuses wrote this article about the Rock Island-Milan School District getting a grant for $2 million dollars from the Illinois State Board of Education to develop a computer program called Classroom Cubed.  The program is being developed by a local Rock Island company called JTM Concepts.  The grant is funding the project to help kindergarten through 12^th grade students learn math and science.  JTM Concepts has agreed to offer the program free of charge to all educational institutions throughout the state.  The lessons made from this program by Rock Island teachers will also be shared. 

            I understand the purpose of writing grants and that they are very detailed and focused on a specific topic.  However, if I were to receive a grant for $2 million dollars, I would not use it in this same manner.  I know that there are many classrooms in this school district that are in need of new books, desks, and teaching resources.  I applaud the district for the contribution to the state in helping raise test scores in math and science, but what about the other subjects that continues to get left behind over and over.  Okay so they have this money, and the company willing to make this product, why not integrate social studies, art, reading, and music while they are at it?  Having some computer programming background myself, I know that each subject can model each other and the only thing that would be different is the content.  I know there would be teachers willing to put time into this if it will truly help their curriculum.