Laying The Foundation

LTF’s teacher-to-teacher training in math, science, and English is made possible by LTF-certified trainers—experienced classroom teachers who conduct training in their respective disciplines. Attendees of four-day LTF Institutes and LTF One-Day Conferences take an active part in learning the pedagogical skills and content through lessons, instruction, and participation in exercises. Because LTF is not a curriculum, the resources that LTF provides can be infused into any existing curriculum.

LTF Training for Pre-AP and AP science teachers places a heavy emphasis on hands-on learning through laboratory activities and the use of technology in the classroom. These activities also put the math back into science. The graphing, data interpretation/analysis, and mathematical-problem solving encouraged by LTF Trainers provide important links from early grade science classes to math-based expectations in AP-level courses. LTF Math Training provides Pre-AP and AP math teachers with a series of resources that link skills with the competencies students must acquire if they are to have equitable access to college-level math courses. LTF English Training incorporates texts from subject areas outside of language arts to promote student discussion, analysis, and the synthesis of ideas across disciplines, including math and science.

Year-round support for teachers is an important component of the LTF Training program. LTF has recently moved toward a blended learning model of professional development, in which resources are available through the LTF website for teachers to access whenever they need them. The LTF Forums and LTF Blog are two other means for information sharing among the online teacher community, and several topics addressed there relate directly to STEM education.