Pilot Project Results

LeTaS!: A school reform model for enhancing teacher content knowledge and supporting inquiry-based science teaching in elementary classrooms

Learning to teach science and using an inquiry-based approach presents a challenge for most elementary teachers. LeTaS! was organized to reduce the scope of science content demands on teachers by creating an interdependent grade level triad structure focused on developing a comprehensive, standards-driven, inquiry-based, school-wide approach to teaching science. LeTaS! professional development included two summer institutes, a winter camp, and on-site coaching and feedback.  The yearlong project included collaboration, asynchronous access, school structure modifications, evaluation, and support (CASES) to increase elementary teachers’ science content knowledge and implementation of an inquiry-based approach. 

THE MODEL