SPREE- Science Projects Related to Equity in Education

SPREE is a joint collaboration between the MASE Center and the Sacramento State College of Education’s Equity Network, in partnership with the Sacramento County Office of Education. SPREE is funded by a grant from the California Postsecondary Education Commission.

Science Equipment Mini-Grant

A total of $17,000 in grants funding is available. We expect to award 4-5 mini-grants, each between $3000-$4000. The exact amount of each grant will depend on the number of grants awarded. The Mathematics and Science Education (MASE Center at Sacramento State invites proposals for grants from any school that participated in the SPREE program between 2003-2007. SPREE (Science Projects Related to Equity in Education) is a joint project between the CSUS College of Education, the MASE Center, and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE).
SPREE is funded by the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) Improving Teacher Quality program.

SPREE seeks to improve science instruction high-poverty, culturally and linguistically diverse schools that host student teachers for the CSUS College of Education. The goals of the project are:

• To improve the science content knowledge of K-8 school teachers
  
• To increase the pedagogical repertoire of these teachers, particularly with respect to
  
  • Inquiry-based and hands-on science instruction
    
  • Effective instructional strategies for English Learners
    
  • Effective instructional strategies for all learning styles
    
  • Promoting equity in the classroom and community
    
• To increase teachers’ awareness of and ability to create science curriculum attentive to issues of social justice and equity in their schools’ communities

SPREE Follow-Up Days: 11/4/06 and 1/27/07
SPREE Lead Teacher Facilitator Meeting: 11/15/06
Ongoing school year Lesson Study led by teacher facilitators
SPREE Lesson Study Reflection & Showcase: May 16, 2006 (tentative)

• Lesson Study teams of teachers were formed during the 2005 Summer Institute under the supervision of SPREE staff. Teams then continued to meet throughout the academic year with the assistance of a facilitator provided by the project.
• Three follow-up sessions where held during the academic year.
• Academic year short courses in science were provided to SPREE teachers. These courses were structured around grade-level science standards, and included inquiry-based classroom activities.
• The 2006 Summer Institute integrated inquiry-based instruction in science with effective instructional strategies for EL students. Teachers engaged in lesson study and taught their lessons to students in summer school at two partner schools.