ABSTRACT

This chapter offers an in-depth look at the development of a community of practice within the partnership Science Curriculum Team (SCT). The University has offered science teachers in our partner schools professional development opportunities through the Team. The SCT meets monthly in the fall and biweekly in the spring semester. The Team has co-chairs: an education faculty member and an experienced science teacher from one of our partner schools. The purpose of the Team is to support the development of science curriculum and practice within and across partner schools, and within the participants’ classrooms. The SCT also has become a place where teachers can exchange ideas and share resources—a mutual give-and-take especially important in schools that can struggle with inadequate science equipment and proper labs to prepare high-school students to be college- and career-ready. For beginning teachers, the SCT has helped provide an opportunity to grow and ask questions from more experienced teachers.