A book telling the compelling story of the challenges and opportunities of teaching science to English learners is scheduled for release in fall of 2016. Currently in the process of being published, the book is titled “Supporting K–12 English Language Learners in Science: Putting Research into Teaching Practice.” One of the book’s authors is Cory Buxton, a faculty member in the online M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education.

The stories for the book came out of four related projects conducted in different parts of the country by research teams at four universities. The team at UGA includes Buxton and three colleagues, Allan Cohen, Martha Allexsaht-Snider, and Zhenqiu Lu. Their project is called LISELL-B, Language-Rich Inquiry Science with English Language Learners through Biotechnology. LISELL-B is a National Science Foundation-supported initiative, recognized as a Bright Spots Program by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in September of 2015. Cory Buxton explains the project: “The LISELL-B project particularly focuses on the unique assets, skills and needs that emergent bilingual learners – those students receiving instruction primarily in a language other than their home language – bring to the science classroom. The project works with teachers, students and families from 10 Georgia middle and high schools in Athens-Clarke County and Hall County, as well as with UGA faculty and graduate students, and representatives from various colleges, universities and technical schools.”

Buxton and his colleagues are using the momentum of national recognition and the new book to expand their work. “At the moment LISELL-B is gearing up for our summer activities,” said Buxton. “We will be collaborating with UGA in coordinating science lab visits for teachers and Latino students participating in our LISELL-B Summer Teacher Institute and Student Biotech Academy. We are still looking for additional science labs on campus that would like to collaborate with us during the summer activities at UGA to host teachers and students and to inspire Latinos to follow careers in STEM disciplines.”

For more information about LISELL-B or for collaborating during the summer or in the future, please contact the project coordinator Dr. Yainitza Hernandez Rodriguez at y.her.lisell@gmail.com or Dr. Cory Buxton at buxton@uga.edu.