Description :  Project OWLLS is designed to provide teachers with an in-depth understanding of the oral and written language needs of their students consistent with Early Reading First initiatives and strategies for increasing these abilities in English/Language Arts in grades Pre-K through 5. The goals include applying teaching and learning strategies in the classroom, improving student performance on state and national assessments, expanding the use of technology, and providing coursework applicable to teacher certification. OWLLS is a partnership between two disciplines (education and communication disorders) and two campuses (LSU and Louisiana Tech). Participating teachers will attend two, five-day summer workshops, attend 10 monthly compressed video conferences, work in close collaboration with the site coordinator and the school ELA team, complete assigned readings and classroom activities, and participate in research designed to demonstrate the efficacy of this project using scientifically-based research methodologies for which three hours of college credit can be earned. In years two and three of the project, the program will expand to align the entire curriculum at each grade level with the LDE English/Language Arts GLEs. This alignment will provide children with a learning experience wherein the information is integrated and generalized throughout the school year so that application to high-stakes teaching is a natural result of learning.

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Principal Investigator:  Cummins, Carrice  --  Curriculum, Instruction & Leadership

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Collaborators:  Margaret Stewart, Ph.D.; and Jan Norris, Ph.D.

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Funding Agencies:  LaSIP through LSU

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Amount Awarded:  $27,433

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Start Period:  04/01/2004

End Period:  05/15/2005