The purpose of this project is to provide education in science content and instructional methodology to 35, grade 4 - 8 teachers. The teachers will be from the predominantly Hispanic and Black areas of Los Angeles Unified School District (East Los Angeles and Watts). Major outcomes of the proposed project include increased teacher knowledge of science content; increased integration of reading, mathematics and science; and increased skills in teaching science through a process approach. The program will be conducted by science and education faculty from California State University, Los Angeles; they will be assisted by classroom teacher consultants from previously funded National Science Foundation projects. The program will consist of 24 six hour days in a six-week summer session during July and August of 1989. During two days of each week of the summer session, presentations on major science concepts will be made, followed by two days of hands- on experience with appropriate science instructional activities which are related to the science content presentations. Along with the introduction of a process approach to science instruction, project participants will be prepared to integrate reading/language and mathematics skills in the science program. Participants will initiate and carry out projects related to their classroom responsibilities. Graduate students from underrepresented minority groups will be employed to supervise the day-to-day work of project participants during the workshop. During the academic year period from October 1989 to March 1990, project staff will make monthly follow-up visits to project participant teams in their schools. This program presents the opportunity of offering a program in a metropolitan area with a high percentage of minority students.
