In Louisiana, there are two types of science teachers K-8: teachers in "traditional programs," and teachers in immersion programs. In Foreign Language immersion, the target language (French or Spanish) is the language of instruction and the means of communication in the classroom. These programs are designed for English-speaking students and are not to be confused with "Bilingual Programs." In these French Immersion programs, the teachers teach the entire state curriculum with respect to the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum and Grade Level Expectations, including science, in French (except for reading language arts).

Louisiana is the state where French immersion programs are the most developed in the U.S. (CAL 2006). There are currently nearly 3,000 students in 30 French immersion programs throughout 9 school districts, employing some 150 teachers (only 7 schools in 4 districts in Louisiana Spanish Immersion programs; CAL 2006; LDE 2006; and Sgambato 2006). As a result, Louisiana hosts approximately 30% of all French Immersion schools in the nation. This strong representation is part of the legacy of Louisiana’s unique history, and it is one of the strengths which make Louisiana such a special place in the U.S.  Most of these immersion schools are in the parishes which were most severely affected by the 2005 hurricanes. These same parishes also include some of the most rural and underserved areas of the state, and consequently, the majority of Louisiana French immersion programs are located in high-need school districts, attended primarily by historically underrepresented and low socio-economic students.

Through the partnership between the FEP and the MNS, supported by a BoR SELECT grant, we have the opportunity to help these schools in their recovery efforts by bringing them workshops via videoconferences, and offering them all the scientific workshop materials in both French and English. This innovative partnership bringing together science and French is grounded in a solid body of research in the fields of teacher education, science education, and Foreign Language education. Because the program, the pedagogical materials and the science and language resources are offered in both languages, they will also be available to science teachers in standard elementary and middle school programs. “Standard” and “Immersion” teachers have a number of characteristics in common: both groups teach the same science content, both are in dire need of pedagogical materials and support, and both need opportunities for professional development. The LSU FEP and MNS combined efforts to offer them precisely that. They will also model a collaboration, which will be encouraged and fostered between science teachers in regular programs and science teachers in immersion schools.

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Priorities of the 2006 BoR SELECT

• extend education to rural areas of the state, other underserved areas, and those affected by the 2005 storms; and
• strengthen state teacher education by offering courses and programs in specific areas of professional training and development.

• This project targets high-need Louisiana school districts.
• Videoconferences for science teachers in traditional elementary and middle school programs and science teachers in French immersion programs. All materials are provided in English and in French.
• Online LSU FEP National Resource Center (partially funded by a previous BoR DEI Grant, 2003-2005), and LSU Museum of Natural Science (MNS) Website.
• Partnership between Foreign Languages (FEP) and Science (MNS and College of Basic Science), but also with local institutions (parish school districts, the Louisiana Consortium of Immersion Schools, and the Louisiana Department of Education), and the French Cultural Services in New Orleans.
• Continuing Learning Units (CLUs) are offered to participating teachers.

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• to organize and offer K-8 Louisiana science teachers a series of 7 professional development workshops via compressed video to increase the amount of classroom science content and improve classroom practices.
• to organize and offer science teachers in French immersion programs (where the state science curriculum has to be taught in French to English-speaking students) a series of 7 professional development workshops via compressed video aimed at improving the teaching of science (content and classroom practices).
• to research and collect science materials and classroom activities and make them available in English on the LSU MNS Website, and in French on the LSU FEP Online National Resource Center. In addition to activities developed by the teachers attending the workshops, materials developed by this current proposal will include (a) translation in French of the book of activities based on the MNS exhibits "Discover the LSU Museum of Natural Science" and its uploading in French on the FEP Online National Resource Center and in English on the MNS website; and (b) development of MNS "Traveling Trunks," in French and in English.

to significantly contribute to the content, pedagogical and technological professional development of Louisiana science teachers by offering them Continuing Learning Units (CLUs) via compressed video for participation in the project which they may submit for approval as part of their professional development plan to meet Louisiana's five-year teacher re-certification or the Highly Qualified Teacher requirements.