Science 7

I love to say I was raised in Anchorage, Alaska and am a transplant to Southern Utah, but honestly, as I am beginning my 13th year at Lava Ridge, I feel a bit too local to pull off that statement. I continue to be uncomfortably hot in the summer, but having nine months of mild, gorgeous weather (AK spring and summer temperatures) has helped me to never want to move back!

           Teaching is in my genes, as both my parents were educators. I can’t remember a time when I did not want to be a teacher! I received a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks way back in the last century. I took a few years off to stay home with my three sons and came back to the profession when my youngest was in kindergarten. In addition to my teaching degree, I have completed a Gifted and Talented Endorsement, an Earth Science Endorsement, and a Middle Level Science Endorsement. 

Sadly, my husband and I are empty nesters now, our youngest having graduated from Snow Canyon last year, just like his older brothers.  Our oldest finished culinary school and occasionally comes by to cook his parents a fabulous dinner when he is down from Salt Lake and the other two are serving missions, one in the Philippines and the other who will be going to Hong Kong in September. 

For science, I am asking that students bring a folder with three prongs and pockets or a three ring binder that they use for all of their classes. We use packets for every unit and flipping through pages will be easier than constantly trying to find the right page from their backpacks. For STEM, the students do not need anything other than their brains and a pencil. Also, interesting enough, Lava Ridge has an aversion to pencils. I’m not sure how they disappear from one class to another but they do. I bought over 1000 pencils last year and we had a party the day I gave out my last one. I did buy more this year, but if you have some lying around your house, please think about donating them to the class throughout the year. Maybe the kids and I need to do some experiments to identify where they are going? There is science all around us, and I cannot wait to explore it this year with all of you.