Mississippi State University will identify characteristics of exemplary African American elementary science teachers and examine the role of mentoring on beginning elementary science teachers and their students. The project goals are: 1) to learn from exemplary African American science teachers about how to better articulate students' cultural knowledge with science disciplines; (2) to expand a knowledge base about the socio-cultural context of science learning, culturally relevant science content and pedagogical skills, and conditions for promoting teaching and learning particularly for African American students at the elementary school level; (3) to develop a knowledge base about mentoring and supporting beginning science teachers, and (4) to advance an empirically informed national discussion about how to address the science gaps in high stakes science achievement tests.
