Making Science Feel Possible at Carl Sandburg Middle School
Not every student walks into a science classroom excited to be there. Some feel unsure, some feel behind, and some have already decided it’s “not their thing.” But for Carl Sandburg Science Teacher Valaria Cardenas, changing that mindset is part of the work, and part of what makes it meaningful.
“I just want them to enjoy learning,” she said. “Not even just science, just learning in general. I want it to feel like a safe, comfortable space where they can be themselves.”
Ask Cardenas what makes her classroom different, and she doesn’t point to curriculum or test scores. Instead, she talks about connections.
“I just talk to them,” she said. “Ask about their weekend, what they’re into. I try to make that connection first.”
When students feel comfortable, she says, they’re more open to learning and more willing to engage.
In her classroom, science doesn’t stay in a textbook. Lessons are tied to real-world experiences students recognize, from roller coasters at Six Flags to movie scenes. By connecting the lesson to things they know, it makes more sense to them.
In addition to teaching science, Cardenas leads a class called Creative Learning, designed for students in the school’s specialized program. It’s a space where students explore art, science, engineering, and even cooking through hands-on experiences.
“I give them the materials, and they decide how they want to use them,” she said. “There’s a lot of freedom in that.”
For many students, it’s an opportunity to learn in a way that feels accessible, and to discover what they’re capable of.
Recently, a former student reached out to share that after struggling with science in earlier grades, her experience in Cardenas’s class changed everything.
“She told me she used to hate science,” Cardenas said. “But after being in my class in eighth grade, she started to love it, and now she’s planning to pursue it in college.”
Moments like that, built over time through relationships and trust, are what stay with her.
“That was a ‘wow’ moment for me,” she said. “It reminds you why you’re doing this.”