News Archives - 2002

The Teaching Scholars Program (TSP) is a new federally funded program through the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Independent Colleges Office. The Augsburg College of Education, Natural Science Division (Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics departments) and the Cedar Riverside Community School are in partnership on this two year, $30,000 grant.

The Teaching Scholars Program provides sophomore, junior or senior college students¹ opportunities to explore teaching science or mathematics, on-going mentoring and feedback by faculty and staff, and the opportunity to explore some great science and mathematics curriculum with a small group of students during the school year.

The Augsburg students commit at least seven hours per week to the program. They are working with students in the 6th to 8th grade at the Cedar Riverside Community School, (CRCS) which is located in the urban core of Minneapolis and largely serves children of Somalian, Ethiopian, Hmong and African American families living within the Cedar Riverside neighborhood.

Some of the goals of the program are: to develop Augsburg Teaching Scholars understanding of and confidence in the teaching and learning process for middle school math and science education; to increase the science and/or math aptitude of 6th-8th grade students; to develop positive attitudes toward greater confidence in math and/or science; and to develop a replicable model of the TSP Program which encourages math and science undergraduates to participate in K-12 education initiatives.

The advisory team, Dr. Jeanine Gregoire, Education and Physic Department, Dr. Sandra Olmstead, Chemistry Department, Augsburg College; Sheldon Rucker, principal, CRCS; and Stephanie Byrdziak, assistant director, CRCS; and cooperating teachers at CRCS, selected the applicants from students within the Natural Science Division of Augsburg College. Students who successfully complete the first year as a Teaching Scholar may be eligible for a second year in the program. Four Teaching Scholar positions are available each of the next two academic years. The students may also the opportunity to present their experiences at several national conferences.