The University of Massachusetts Boston, with support from the National Science Foundation, is offering yearlong support for Middle School Science Teachers from Boston, Dedham and Milton Public Schools. The goals of the WISP program are to offer future scientists a rewarding experience working with K12 schools and to provide teachers with science graduate students (10 hr/week in-class plus 5 hr/week preparation during the entire academic year) to assist you in implementing your hands-on inquiry based curriculum, introduce research methods, prepare laboratories, and act as role models. These students receive training in basic pedagogy, participate in professional development (FOSS), are familiar with the Massachusetts science frameworks, and are continuing to carry out their own research. The program will use the Neponset River Watershed as an integrating context to help implement your standards-based curriculum. Ten candidates will be selected from Boston, Dedham and Milton Public middle schools. Preference will be given to teams (2 or more) of teachers from the same school with strong support from your Director of Instruction (or science chair) and Principal, and to schools located within the Neponset River Watershed. Additionally, you may be selected as an Associate Teacher to be paired with an undergraduate science student (5 hr/week in-class) who has received similar training. (Project Summary)

Participating Teachers will receive:

• Science Graduate student 10 hours per week for the entire school year, shared between teams of teachers

• A modest stipend for their involvement (~120 hours)

• Substitute coverage to attend workshops

• Week-long Environmental Science Content Institute (5 days; 8 hours/day)

• 3 Day-long Professional Development Workshops (8 hours/day)

• 45 Professional Development Points

• Possible Graduate Credit over the summer

• Detailed knowledge of the Neponset River Watershed Environment

Participating Teachers are expected to:

• Maintain a proper learning environment in the classroom

• Maximize the effectiveness of the Fellow in the classroom

• Work closely (plan assignments, mentor) with assigned Graduate Students starting in the summer before they enter the classroom

• Participate in the week-long Summer Environmental Science Content Institute (5 days; 8 hours/day)

• Participate in Professional Development Workshops (3 workshops, 8 hours each) and Watershed-wide Activities (approximately 3 ‘events’ per year)

• Integrate Environmental Sciences/Watershed Sciences into your curriculum where appropriate

• Form a supportive learning community between three school districts and faculty/students at UMassBoston

• We do not plan to support teachers in their first 2 years of teaching

• Preference will be given to teams of teachers (2 or more from the same school or that have some other strong link that allows them to share experiences)

• Preference will be given to teachers that have administrative support (letters of support from department chairs, principals, Directors of Instruction)

• Preference will be given to teachers that can provide evidence that they maintain a proper learning environment for students

• Preference will be given to teachers who provide ideas of how to maximize the effectiveness of a science graduate Fellow in their classroom
  

Teachers of Science, Grades 5-8

• Massachusetts Science and Technology Frameworks
• Science Learning Standards Grades 5-8
• Inquiry and Content Standards for Grades 5-8

July 31, 2009 - June 30, 2010.

Middle Schools throughout the Neponset River Watershed

Send or email completed registration form included with this flyer and essay to:

Bob Chen
Environmental, Earth and Ocean Sciences
UMassBoston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125

Applicants are encouraged to call Bob Chen at UMassBoston or discuss with your Science Coordinator: Phone: 617-287-7491; Email: bob.chen@umb.edu

June 1, 2009