This summer, I had the opportunity to work remotely with TMC (Think, Make, Create) Labs through the Idaho Out-of-School Network. As I head into my 8th year of teaching 5th grade at Nezperce Elementary, I applied for this externship with the goal of growing as a science educator and bringing more hand-on learning into my classroom. TMC’s mission was a near perfect match for this. Their mission is to expand access to hands-on STEM learning and skills for all youth, to train educators to provide hands-on learning, to increase community support of STEM learning, and to support Idaho’s workforce development.

My work with TMC Labs centered on adding on to STEM lesson plans to make them user friendly for all facilitators and youth, make connections to Idaho Science Standards and workforce skills, highlight real world STEM careers, and include reflection prompts to help identify the durable skills they are practicing. The process was both creative and challenging. I had to think about how to scaffold complex ideas in ways that make sense for younger learners, make the reflection and learning goals accessible and scaffolded for all facilitators, while also ensuring activities stay meaningful.

One of my biggest takeaways was realizing how little workforce focused training or lessons exist for elementary students. Through this work, I saw that STEM learning at the K–6 level can be a bridge to future opportunities. Instead of asking my own students, “What career do you want to have?” students can start reflecting on the skills they are developing instead, like spatial reasoning, collaboration, or critical thinking. This shift is powerful for the future, because many of the jobs they will eventually hold don’t even exist yet. Helping them build confidence in their skills prepares them for whatever comes next in the future.

Looking ahead, I plan to incorporate more self-reflection into STEM activities in my own classroom. I want my students to pause and consider: What did I enjoy? What was difficult? What skill did I use that I could grow stronger in? These simple reflection questions can encourage them to see themselves as capable problem solvers and innovators, which matters just as much as mastering the content. It also can be so empowering for the students to recognize what skills they are already good at and enjoy and then focus on building on their strong foundations.

On a personal note, balancing this remote externship with two toddlers at home was its own challenge, but also a reminder of why I do love teaching! Kids are naturally curious, imaginative, and eager to try new things. Whether it’s my own children or my students, I want to nurture that spark. This job gave me new tools and perspectives to do just that. I had the best experience with this externship, built awesome connections, found a huge number of resources to bring back to my school, and would recommend this opportunity to every teacher!

Grade Level and Subject Taught: 5th Grade; All Subjects