Teacher Enhancement for Active Middle School Science in Kansas City

Project Title: Teacher Enhancement for Active Middle School Science in Kansas City

Project Director: Dr. Jerzy Wrobel

Lead Institution: University of Missouri – Kansas City

Duration of Project: One year

Grade Level Focus: 6-8

Credit Hours to be Provided: 6 graduate credit hours

Project Summary:

The Teacher Enhancement for Active Middle School Science in Kansas City (TEAMSS - KC) project was formed in response to a severe middle school science teacher shortage caused by the restructuring of all elementary and middle schools into K-8 buildings and extensive but unsuccessful recruiting efforts made by the Kansas City, Missouri School District (KCMSD). These two factors combined have caused an immediate need for over 40 new middle school science teachers next year, 2008-09.  Without immediate action, the District will be forced to use long-term substitutes in as many as two-thirds of their middle school science classrooms. Because of failed efforts to find new teachers, we have identified a number of certified teachers (with elementary, and middle school social studies and language arts certification) currently working for the district that are interested in adding middle science to their certification endorsement. Under current DESE regulations a teacher certified in Missouri can pick up additional endorsements by passing the PRAXIS in that specific content area.

Our principal aim is to address the severe middle school science teacher shortage by aiding certified teachers in passing the middle school science portion of the PRAXIS exam as required by DESE.  This will be achieved by TEAMSS – KC faculty teaching a series of highly integrated inquiry lessons in physical, earth, and life sciences during summer and fall semesters. During the process of learning important scientific knowledge, participants will be provided experiences designed to model and teach critical thinking, problem solving, and process skills by our use of effective pedagogy during instruction. Subsequently, participants will take the PRAXIS exam to obtain full middle school science certification. We plan to simultaneously address the content knowledge required to pass the PRAXIS and pedagogy necessary to be an effective science teacher.