Claire Trainer, a participant in the Science Master Teacher Leadership Cohort and I-STEM, currently teaches 7th- and 8th-grade science at Murphy Elementary School.  She describes the work with I-STEM, specifically NGSX, as shifting her perspective on science teaching. The implementation of phenomena-based storylines aligned with students’ lives increases their engagement in productive talk.  While utilizing this strategy, students model their ideas and work together to build consensus and deepen their understanding of the material. She adds that this growth has influenced her teaching in other subjects, and highlights the joy she sees as students grapple with complex topics.

“I love to see students engage with science and develop a love for difficult, interesting work.”

Last May, Claire and her students completed one of her favorite extensions.  After participating in an active dig site with the DIG Field School located in Montana, she had the opportunity to enhance the curriculum and embed a hands-on experience.

“ After learning about natural selection and evolution, students work directly with a fossil project run by the Burke Museum and the University of Washington, sorting microfossils from a dig site's sediment.  The students learn about the Hell Creek formation, fossil formation, and techniques for sorting microfossils, and then begin to find, sort, and identify these fossils to send back to the Burke Museum.  This experience for the students brings so much excitement and joy, and will be a lasting memory for them.”

This immersive experience, rooted in geology, paleontology, and evolution, coupled with research at the DIG Field School, is one example of Claire’s continuous growth as a teacher leader in the district.

“I continue to look for rich, impactful learning opportunities to grow my practice.  I have participated in many fellowships, such as National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship, Ecology Project International Teacher Fellowship, TeachPlus Teacher Fellow, DIG Field School, and the Chicago STEM Teaching Collaborative Fellows program, as well as any travel opportunities that tie to education.  All of these opportunities help to broaden my understanding of the world and its interactions, and then I can bring authentic, firsthand experiences into the classroom.”

 She leaves us with a piece of advice for future cohort members:

“Keep finding joy and wonder in your work and experiences you create for students.  It is in these moments that the love for learning is cultivated and community is built within your classrooms.”

More about the DIG Field School:

The four-day program is run in collaboration with the Burke Museum, University of Washington, and Virginia Tech researchers in either Montana or Arizona.  While camping on the grounds and working alongside paleontologists, teachers are collecting microfossils, using GIS coordinates, and discussing how to bring the experiences back to the classroom.  After the program ends, alumni reserve Dig Boxes, which come with lesson plans and hands-on activities, such as sorting actual sediment for microfossils!  Claire highly recommends this professional development to anyone interested.

If you’d like to apply for DIG Field School Summer 2026, click here to stay updated on the application process.