Teachers in California face the challenge of providing quality science education to a rapidly increasing number of English Learners. The Monterey Bay Science Project/LASERS (Language Acquisition in Science Education for Rural Schools) promotes systemic change by providing professional development services to schools and individual teachers in order to bring all students into the mainstream of science academic literacy.
The Monterey Bay Science Project/LASERS professional development focuses on the standards-based integration of language acquisition with scientific concepts. Covering physical, earth and life sciences, our program utilizes state adopted curricula, the Life Lab curriculum and the school garden as a living laboratory.
Through our collaboration with the California Science Project, University of California Office of the President, Migrant Education, participating districts, and UC Santa Cruz’s Education and Environmental Studies Departments, we are able to provide a variety of programs throughout the year, serving the Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties. These programs include our nationally recognized Summer School Academy, week-long institutes, a workshop series and our annual Spring Conference. Most events are open to the public. Please contact us for more information.
To access all professional development opportunities available through Monterey Bay Science Project (LASERS) please visit http://csmp.ucop.edu/csp/monterey/index.php .
Consulting
Schools or districts may contract with us for technical assistance in designing K-8 professional development that is based on school/district needs. This professional development may include teachers, instructional aides, administrators, resource teachers and other support staff. Topics may include selection and implementation of state adopted curriculum materials, inquiry-based science, garden-based science, content-based ELD and science, formative assessment strategies, peer coaching and reflection strategies.
Contact MBSP at science@lifelab.org.
