School Science and Mathematics Technology Reviews  Jacqueline McDonald, Section Editor
	Videos Featuring Kay Toliver Producer: Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education (FASE) Kay Toliver has over 30 years classroom experience at P.S. 72/East Harlem Tech teaching mathematics and communication arts and has been recognized with many major awards. She has an MA from Hunter College and has done graduate work in mathematics at City College of New York. Recognizing her talents, FASE has produced a multifaceted set of programs for mathematics teacher education and classroom use. Each of the programs in this collection is independently superb, and collectively they are extraordinary in their perspective and vision. The exchanges between students, teacher, and materials are clear and natural. In these materials, we see and feel the sheer joy Toliver takes in teaching and the delight her students find in learning. Reminding us of the moments when teaching and learning have thrilled our souls, these moments can revitalize our efforts. The Eddie Files feature 11-year-old Eddie, a mythical student in Toliver's very real mathematics class in East Harlem, New York. Video footage of actual classroom activities are woven with footage of Eddie interviewing and exploring applications and examples of class ideas, as he compiles his "files" of mathematical examples, concepts, and careers. This weaving of real classroom experiences with a fictional student's further investigations and explorations creates a powerful mathematical experience, especially for young students. The Kay Toliver Files feature segments of her classroom in action. She provides an exciting narration of the class activities, emphasizing multiple perspectives. Each Kay Toliver file corresponds to an Eddie file. In The Eddie Files: Geometry: Invasion of the Polygons, for example, Eddie is involved with the rest of the classroom in building three-dimensional shapes from various polygons. When he is given a homework assignment to find polygons, Eddie interviews an architect, studies buildings, meets an inventor, and photographs his experiences. In The Kay Toliver Files: Polygons, the same lesson is presented but from Toliver's perspective. She narrates the classroom events and activities and comments on motivation, task selection, activities, student learning, management, communication, and writing in the math class. The Eddie Files: Estimation: Going to the Dogs finds Eddie and his class trying to estimate the number of dogs in New York City. He and his peers make estimates using a variety of different strategies. In the corresponding The Kay Toliver Files: Estimation, Toliver explains the importance of estimation skills, narrating the lesson, and elaborating on the learning and teaching strategies presented in the classroom vignettes. The Eddie Files: Statistics: The Lucky Batting Glove finds Eddie in pursuit of baseball statistics for his homework assignment. While talking to Gus, the hot dog vendor at Yankee Stadium, Eddie comes into possession of Wade Boggs's lucky batting glove. He and his Aunt Rosa set out on a statistical adventure, as they attempt to return Boggs's glove. In The Eddie Files: The Counting Principle: Eddie in Barbieland, Eddie is asked by his mother and aunt to do the UNTHINKABLE! He is to go to the toy store and buy Barbie clothes for his sister's birthday present. This task relates to his math lesson on the fundamental counting principle. Eddie's adventures include a tour of Mattel toys and applications of mathematics with both Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars. One of the factors making these two series particularly unique is the opportunity to pair tapes for an unusual educational perspective. This provides many opportunities for educators. First, each video stands independently and can be used with or without its partner or other members of its series. Second, a classroom teacher can incorporate The Eddie Files into classroom instruction and, at the same time, use The Kay Toliver Files to study a lesson and related methodology. I showed The Eddie Files: Geometry: Invasion of the Polygons to a preservice education class. They were enthused about the dynamics of what they saw but were mystified by the actual "bringing to pass" of such instruction. We outlined some of their interests and concerns and then watched The Kay Toliver Files. The narrative provided by Toliver was strong, dynamic, reassuring and motivating to my preservice students. They left class with specific ideas they felt could make a difference in the way they taught. Several students borrowed The Eddie Files to take into their field placement classes and use in their own lessons.
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