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Beginning Science Teachers

Experienced Science Teachers




The Professsional Learning Community

eMSS Partners

eMSS has been developed over the past five years through the strategic partnership and collaboration of National Science Teachers Association, New Teacher Center at UCSC, and Montana State University's Science Math Resource Center with funding from the National Science Foundation's Math Science Partnership.

eMSS is building a national community of science educators focused on supporting new science teachers as they enter the profession. Our goal is to ensure that all eMSS beginning science teachers have the resources and veteran advice to provide quality instruction to their students. To develop this community each beginning teacher is assigned a mentor from the same state and discipline. The program focuses on their work together on selected content and pedagogy. They work in collaboration with other mentors and mentees and interact with scientists who are regularly involved in the network.

eMSS Districts, Educational Organizations, and Departments of Education

Organizations or agencies that work with school districts may recruit recruit and select beginning science teachers for this fee based service. If you are passionate about science education and your organization wants to provide this service email emss@newteachercenter.org for more information.

Mentees

Mentees are beginning (1-3 year) middle and high school science teachers in participating districts, organizations, and departments of education. They are matched with a mentor who is an experienced science teacher with experience at the same grade level.

The benefits of becoming an eMSS mentee include:

  • Expert support from an individual mentor with experience in the same science discipline and grade level
  • Access to a nationwide network of science teachers
  • Access to content-focused online support for the classroom
  • A guided curriculum that engages mentees in planning, applying practice to their classroom, and reflection with their mentor and a group of teachers working on similar goals.
  • Access to a vast array of science resources
  • Receive verification of professional development participation
  • Option to receive academic credit
  • Expectations of eMSS Mentees include:
  • Complete eMSS Mentee Online Orientation
  • Participate on a weekly basis in the eMSS online site
  • Work with mentor on the curriculum in the eMSS environment
  • Mentors

Mentors

Mentors are experienced middle or high school science teachers with strong content area knowledge and evidence of exemplary teaching. Mentors help beginning science teachers and interact with a community of science teachers and content experts. Mentors receive stipends.

The benefits of becoming an eMSS Mentor include:

  • Online mentor professional development
  • eMSS Program stipends from $1,400 to $2,200/year
  • Immediate access to a nationwide network of other mentor teachers, professional scientists and new school teachers

eMSS Mentors Expectations:

  • Complete one of the three week online, e-Mentor Summer Institutes
  • Participation in the mentor professional development program that is part of eMSS
  • Active participation in the eMSS program including meeting required number of posts
  • Quality online dialogue
  • Work with two-to-three mentees and guide them through all aspects of the eMSS environment. Mentors and mentees will be matched by content area and grade level.
  • Participate daily in the eMSS online site, posting a minimum of two-to-three times during the week.
  • Complete at least two Inquiries during the school year.
  • Sign a letter of agreement with NTC and NSTA

Facilitators

Facilitators are experienced eMSS Mentors who have demonstrated ability to be an online science mentor. The facilitator role is to guide discussion areas of mentors and mentees. Selected mentors are invited to be facilitators and then participate in a three week online facilitator training in May 2008. Facilitators are trained in moderating online discussion groups, providing timely fedback, and pose engaging questions. Faciliators recieve a stipend for their work and are expected to be online daily.

Content Experts

eMSS Content Experts are scientists from each discipline in the mentoring network. Content Experts participate regularly in eMSS discussions, answering content questions, probing for understanding and sharing information related to their research.