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Lifelong Learning
News135678

Science teacher named Horizon Teacher of the Year

April 28, 2015

A lifelong learner, Christine Berg is always looking for what’s new in science education. Berg, an eighth-grade science teacher at Horizon Middle School, has been named the 2015 Horizon Teacher of the Year.

Berg wants students to be active in their learning.

“I believe that ‘doing science’ helps students understand the concepts we cover in class, and I need to teach these concepts using a variety of methods and technology to engage the students,” she said.

Berg was the first Horizon science teacher to have iPads for use by students in her class, and she has developed activities that have been shared with her colleagues.

“Christine was a teacher leader in our building with the integration of iPads,” said Jeremy Larson, Horizon principal.

“My piloting of the iPads helped get iPads for the other science classes,” Berg said.

A teacher at Horizon for the past 10 years, Berg has a bachelor’s degree in biology with a chemistry minor from Concordia College, a bachelor’s degree in life science education from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from MSUM. Berg has been the House 8B team leader, is science department chair, coaches Science Olympiad, and serves on an advisory panel for MSUM science teacher preparation.

She credits her parents for influencing her decision to become a teacher.

“They were both teachers and my dad was also a principal,” Berg said. “I think that being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs when I see students have a moment of enlightenment when a concept they were struggling with becomes one they get.”

According to Larson, Berg uses assessment well to guide her instruction and adapt to the needs of her students.

“I strongly believe that all students can learn,” Berg said. “I believe that being a teacher is more than teaching them about science, but also preparing them to be successful in life by working with them to develop the skills needed to be productive members of the community.”

Photo caption: Christine Berg, eighth-grade science teacher and Horizon Teacher of the Year, uses a balloon to demonstrate the effect of the Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

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