1995 ~ LASERS

The National Science Foundation funds Life Lab, from 1995-2001 in the Language Acquisition in Science Education at Rural Schools (LASERS) project. Life Lab starts working with 7 school districts to improve science teaching practices for second language learners. UCSC partners with Life Lab to evaluate student improvements in both academics and language acquisition.

Life Lab “borrows” teachers from districts to coach other teachers, lead science training classes and create a science and language summer school. The Summer School Academy Model of staff development shows a minimum of 6 months language gain by students attending the four week program!

Integrating Inquiry Science and Language Development for English Language Learners  JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING May 2002, Trish Stoddart, America Pinal, Marcia Latzke, Dana Canaday.