Classroom teacher responsibilities

In order for SciTrek to be sustainable, the program needs to work with teachers on developing their abilities to run student-centered inquiry-based lessons on their own in their classroom. To be fully prepared for modules, teachers must attend an orientation that corresponds with the module their class will be doing. For those that job share, both teachers are required to attend orientation for their class as well as attend each day of the module that falls upon their respective days. Additionally, if more than 1 day of the module is missed, priority registration for the next year will be affected. 

As teachers take over the role of SciTrek lead, SciTrek will continue to expand to additional classrooms. Even when teachers lead the modules in their own classroom, SciTrek will continue to provide volunteers and all of the materials needed to run the module. Below is a timeline for teachers to take over the role as the SciTrek lead. In order to receive priority sign-ups, teachers must adhere to this timeline.

1. Year 1 - Classroom teacher is a Group Lead
2. Year 2 - Classroom teacher is a Co- Lead
3. Year 3 and beyond - Classroom teacher is a Lead

The responsibilities for each of these roles are as follows:

Group Lead

The classroom teacher will serve as one of the volunteers for the module. In this role the teacher will work with one group containing 4-10 students. During the module the teacher will sit with the group and work with them as they complete their experiments. For the 4^th - 6^th grade classrooms the group of ~10 students will be divided into two or three subgroups. Teachers will be responsible for overseeing all subgroups within the large group.

Co-Lead

The classroom teacher will serve as the SciTrek lead with an experienced SciTrek staff member present to help out if needed. In this role, the classroom teacher will be responsible for leading entire class discussions (e.g., scientific practice activity, tie to standards, etc.), time management, overseeing volunteers, and helping any groups that are struggling. The classroom teacher must be prepared to do all of the above activities; the SciTrek co-lead will only step in for emergencies. In teachers 2^nd year with the program they will not be required to co-lead the tie to standards day (last day of the module).

Lead

The classroom teacher will serve as the SciTrek lead with no experienced SciTrek staff member present. However, SciTrek volunteers will be there to lead groups and all module materials will be provided. In this role the classroom teacher will be responsible for leading entire class discussions (e.g., scientific practice activity, tie to standards, etc.), time management, overseeing volunteers, and helping any groups that are struggling. The classroom teacher must be prepared to do all of the above activities. Once the classroom teacher is serving as the lead, it is essential that they notify a SciTrek staff member if they will not be there for any day of the module (scitrek@pipeline.sbcc.edu). If this is not done there will not be anyone there to lead the class. In teachers 3^rd year an experienced SciTrek staff member will be present every day and they will co-lead the tie to standards day (last day of the module) with teachers.