Framework for Elementary Science Teaching

(Project FEST) 2012-2014

The Framework for Elementary Science Teaching Project (Project FEST) is designed to improve teachers’ science content knowledge and promote effective science teaching. Additionally, participating teachers may be called upon to provide school-based science program leadership. Project FEST will work with 50middle childhood early adolescence [MCEA: grades 1-8, regular, exceptional education, and English Langauge Learner (ELL)] teachers from theMilwaukee area. In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s (UWM) College of Letters and Science (L&S), College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) and the School of Education (SOE), participants will engage in a sustained and rigorous program (eight semester sessions – graduate-level courses, meetings, workshops, field trips and lab-activities over a three year period). The Project starts with orientation sessions in Spring 2012 and continues throughthe Summer of 2014*. Teachers will attend and participate in two-week summerinstitutes and regular meetings during the school year. The focus of the project is on building teachers’ science pedagogical content knowledge. Projectparticipants will also design action research plans to improve science instruction in their classroom and school.

Project Highlights:

  • Build a knowledge base of science content in life, physical,

earth/space science and engineering.

  • Increase your knowledge and understanding of effective

inquiry-based scienceinstruction and practices.

  • Become informed about, and contribute to, the building of

your district/school elementary science program and curriculum

implementationprocess.

  • Understand how modifications to science instruction

can be made for Exceptional Education students and English Language

Learners.

  • Promote science literacy through the connections between science and language arts instruction.
  • Design and implementaction research plans in your classroom [action research plans may be aligned with Professional Development Plans (WI-DPI PI-34 PDP plans) for recently licensed teachers].
  • Share experiences and expertise through leadershipactivities at schools.
  • Become better prepared to be a National Board Certified Teacher***

Project Participation:

  • Earn up to 16 free graduate credits from UWM through the three-year participation in the project. **
  • Your schoolmay receive funds for substitute teacher coverage for you to observe colleagues and engage with other education professionalsin science and literacy instruction in your district.*
  • Earn stipends for participating in selected project sessions.*
  • You may receive free memberships to science teacher professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers (WSST) and Wisconsin Elementary Science Teachers (WEST).*

Participant Responsibilities:

  • Commit to the entire three year project. Please note the summer sessions may overlap with summer school teaching assignments. Please do not apply for the project if you are planning to also apply for a summer school teaching appointment - during any of the summer sessions during the three year project. Please see tentative project dates and times listed below to determine if you are able to commit to the entire three year project timeframe.
  • Attend all project sessions. Consistent and full attendance at all project sessions is mandatory. Attendance trends will be used to determine grades for project course sessions and the ability to continue participation in the project. There are no make-up assignments or work that can be done in lieu of attending or missing course sessions. Summer sessions last two weeks. School-year course sessions (5 meetings each semester) take place on Tuesday nights with possibly one additional Saturday session per semester.
  • Complete all project assignments. Assignments will typically include the completion of graduate-level focus papers and reflection journals based on the reading and analysis of science education, curriculum and instruction research-based reports, journal articles, book chapters and position papers. Other project assignments may require trying out and reporting back on strategies or activities conducted in your classroom or other activities and assignments conducted at school linked to your substitute teacher coverage. The quality of these completed assignments will aid in determining the awarding of credit and grades for project course sessions and the ability to continue participation in the project. The credit awarded through participation in the project is ongoing and split over the three year duration of the project (i.e. some assignments may require course work that spans semester and the graduate credits may be awarded upon completion of the assignments and removal of the temporary “I” or “NR” (incomplete or not reported) grade.
  • Perform action research. Action research plans will be designed and implemented each year of the project. Each written plan will also include documentation and be presented as a portfolio that identifies outlines and summarizes changes in instructional and leadership activities resulting from participation in the project. The quality of the documentation of the action research plans will also aid in determining the awarding of grades for project course sessions and the ability to continue participation in the project.
  • Complete pre- and post- project evaluations. These evaluations include content-based knowledge exams, surveys and questionnaires that will be administered regularly.
  • Allow your classroom to be observed by project evaluators over the three year project time-frame to determine the impact of program participation on teaching behaviors and student activities.
  • Administer a yearly content-based exam (science section of the Terra Nova) to your students.

*Please note that although the project has been initially approved as a three year program and it is anticipated that entire project will take place, continuous funding of the project from the grant agency (WI-DPI from the US Department of Education) is based on a yearly review of the project. Funding is year-to-year and based on the discretion of the funding agencies.Although we anticipate a full three years of funding it may be possible that funding could be reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the funding agency due to federal and state authorization. We anticipate funding for admission fees to the graduate school, substitute teacher coverage, professional organization memberships, and awarding stipends for participation during the three year project time-frame although allocation of the funds is not guaranteed.

**The 16 graduate credits that may be offered through participation in the program can be applied to UWM’s Curriculum and Instruction Masters Degree Program. This program requires 30 credits for completion. The credits that may be awarded from project participation, the successful completion of all course assignments, and the completion of all project activities include both electives and required courses in the master’s program. Registration and enrollment as a graduate student in the GraduateSchool at UWM enables the credit earned in the program to be applied to the master’s degree. GraduateSchool registration and enrollment will be discussed during the Spring 2012 orientation sessions. A Graduate School admissions fee (~ $60.00) might apply for those participants enrolling in the master’s program and payment of the fee may be covered by grant funds.* All project sessions include graduate-level coursework. All participants will registerfor graduate credit and receive grades based on participation and completion of course assignments, project activities and evaluations. There is no undergraduate credit awarded nor are there opportunities to audit courses or to receive a pass/fail grade. Permanent “I” (Incomplete) grades will also not be awarded and as previously stated there are no opportunities to make-up project work, assignments or activities. Enrollment in other courses held at the UWM campus during the same time-frame of this project may result in additional fees (segregated student fees) that are to be paid for by the participant. At this time 16 credits have been scheduled. Additional course needed to complete the master’s degree will be offered post-project and course sessions will be scheduled to keep project FEST participants together as a co-hort.

***The project focuses on both science content and pedagogy which are cornerstones of planning to become a National Board Certified Teacher. Project FEST staff will encourage, support and modify assignments to meet the needs of any participant in their pursuit of this certification.

Tentative Project Dates and Times:

Spring Orientation Sessions 2012Must attend one of the following:

April 24 (T), 4:30-7:30pmor

May 1 (T), 4:30-7:30pm.

Must attend one of the following:

May 5 (Sa), 9:00am-1:00pmor

May12 (Sa), 9:00am-1:00pm.

Summer Session 2012June 18-June 29 (M-F, M-F), 8:30am-3:30pm.

Fall Session 2012(T) September 25, October 23, November 6, 20, December 11,4:30pm-7:30pm.

(Sa) October 13, 9:00am-1:00pm.*

Spring Session 2013(T) February 5, March 19, April 23, May 7, 21,

4:30pm-7:30pm.

(Sa) March 2, 9:00am-1:00pm.*

Summer Session 2013June 17-June 28 (M-F, M-F), 8:30am-3:30pm.

Fall Session 2013(T) September 24, October 22, November 5, 19, December 10, 4:30pm-7:30pm.

(Sa) October 12, 9:00am-1:00pm.*

Spring Session 2014(T) February 4, March 18, April 22, May 6, 20,

4:30pm-7:30pm.

(Sa) March 1, 9:00am-1:00pm.*

Summer Session 2014June 16-June 27 (M-F, M-F) 8:30am-3:30pm.**

All school-year project sessions meet on Tuesday nights from 4:30pm-7:30pm

* The projects dates are tentative based on school district schedules. If parent/teacher conferences or Open House conflict with Tuesday night project dates the sessions may be moved to a different Tuesday night or a Saturday session will be added as a make-up date - pending school schedule conflicts, other logistical issues or unforeseen circumstances that arise with the scheduled Tuesday meeting dates.

All summer sessions meet during the last two weeks of June Monday through Friday 8:30am-3:30pm.

** The summer session projects dates for 2014 may need to be adjusted based on school year calendars. In order to not conflict with the Fourth of July weekend, if needed the schedule may shift to include July 1st and 2nd , the last week of June as planned, and June 19th and 20th to give us a total session time of two weeks or ten days.

Project sessions will take place both at the UWM campus and the WAWM District Building, 1205 South 70th Street, West Allis, WI .

Participant Application

Framework for Elementary Science Teaching(Project FEST) 2012-2014

Teacher Name:______Position/Grade level______

Home Address:______Home Zip Code:______

Home Phone:______Email:______

Teacher Name:______Position/Grade level______

Home Address:______Home Zip Code:______

Home Phone:______Email:______

School Name:______

School Address:______School Zip Code______

School Phone:______School Fax:______

Statement of Commitment:
If accepted into Project FEST, I (we) agree to attend all project sessions (a three-year commitment), complete all course and project requirements, and adhere to UWM university course policies and procedures.

Signatures of Applicants(s):______

______
  • Participants must include a letter of intent from youthat indicates your need for participation in the project and your willingness to support and participate in the project for the entire three-year duration. *Letter of intent must accompany the application to the project.
  • Your principal, learning team leader or other school administrator also needs to write a brief note of acknowledgement and support for project activities that you will be required to conduct over the three-year project time-frame (i.e. action plans for instructional change, course and session assignments, etc…) . *Letter of support must accompany the application to the project.

Completed applications will be accepted ASAP and continue until the project reaches the enrollment cap of 50 teachers (tentatively no later than April 24th). Notification of acceptance/denial or status of application will be communicated to all applicants prior to the mandatory Orientation Sessions.

Send complete applications (application form, letters of participant and principal support) to:

Project FEST

Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research (CMSER)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

PO BOX 413

Milwaukee WI 53201-0413

or fax completed applications to: CMSER, 414-229-4855

Please call Tracy Posnanski (414-229-5908) or Craig Berg (414-229-4047) for more information. To request additional applications please contact the CMSER at 414-229-6646, fax: 414-229-4855.