New, GK-12 Fellows in the Middle: Partnerships for Inquiry and Interdisciplinary Middle School Science and Mathematics

PROPOSAL #: 0638708

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Kenneth Wolff

INSTITUTION: Montclair State University

TITLE: New, Gk-12 Fellows in the middle: Partnerships of Inquiry and Interdisciplinary Middle School Science and Mathematics

This project matches STEM graduate students from Montclair State University with middle grade teachers in five local districts. The main goals of this project are: 1) to enhance Fellows' communication skills, 2) to strengthen teachers' content knowledge, and 3) to improve science and math achievement in middle grades. These goals drive all training, implementation, and assessment efforts. Fellows and teachers participate in training activities that promote inquiry- and standards-based teaching, especially as they relate to raising the achievement of students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). Fellows bring their content knowledge and research experiences to the classroom, enhancing instruction and piquing students' interest in science and math. The intellectual merits of this project are related to its inquiry-based and interdisciplinary structure. Fellows and teachers participate in workshops that promote child-centered instruction using NSF-funded materials such as Developing Mathematical Ideas; the Connected Mathematics Project; and Full Option Science System. Fellows and teachers, guided by Research Advisors and project personnel, design and deliver interdisciplinary units based on annual themes such as Earth History, Planetary Science, Populations and Ecosystems, or Chemical Interactions. These units engage students in field experiences, promote scientific processes, and make connections to cutting-edge research. Fellows and teachers have opportunities to engage in research and educational endeavors at international institutions, further enhancing middle grades students' understanding of research.