I graduated from Central Michigan University in December of 2001 with a B.S. in Elementary Education, a major in Language Arts and a minor in Science. I discovered I loved working with youth while volunteering as a camp counselor for my local Police Athletic League. I spent one week every summer working with children in grades 5-8 from my freshman year in high school through my junior year in college. After college graduation, I spent two years subbing in various schools around my county. I also worked for four months teaching science in a middle school. The opportunity to move to North Carolina presented itself in 2003 so I made the jump to Sampson County and landed at Hobbton Elementary. I spent 20 years teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades. In 2023 I decided I wanted a change of scenery, so I moved up to 8th grade teaching science and I haven't looked back since!

When you enter my room you'll notice right away that I have a HUGE obsession with Harry Potter! What a wonderful way to combine my two favorite subjects: reading and science! Even our class pets have HP inspired names! (Scroll down for more about them!) I hope that students leave Hobbton Middle School with lasting friendships and fond memories of their education, just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione at Hogwarts! But maybe leave out the troll in the dungeon...

In my spare time (ha-ha) I enjoy camping and spending time with my husband and three children. But between Boy Scouts, Competition Dance, and texting with my oldest, it doesn't leave much time for anything else! However, I love to travel when I get a chance! My dream vacation would be to visit Ireland!

SCIENCE SUPPLY LIST

• ONE 3-ring binder (1.5 inch)

• 3-4 tab dividers

• ONE 3-subject Notebook

• Pocket Folder (If you get one with holes you can keep it in the binder!)

• Earbuds for computer (with small case to keep in backpack)

• *Pencils, erasers (replenish as needed from home)

• **Colored pencils

*I love the Paper Mate Handwriting Triangular Mechanical Pencils OR yellow #2 Ticonderoga because the pencil sharpener won't eat them.

**Crayola Twistables are the best! They don't need sharpening and last forever! No need for a large amount, just your basic colors! (A pack of 8-10 is plenty!)

REQUESTED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Tissues - when we run out we have to use the school brown paper towel or toilet paper :(

• Clorox Wipes - science is messy :)

• Hand Soap - we will gladly accept any/holiday "regifted" scented soap!

Bearded dragons are originally from Australia! They are desert animals who like it HOT! These lizards can live 8-10 years in captivity as long as they are healthy and happy! Beardies are very curious creatures! Mine like to watch TV! They are also pretty lazy. They spend most of their day laying on the heat rock or under their heat lamps on the hammock. They are super easy to take care of and really fun to watch explore! It's also entertaining to watch them eat!

80% of an adult dragon's diet is mostly greens and veggies. They cannot have iceberg lettuce, but instead consume other "leafy greens" like collard greens, spinach, or their favorite spring mix. Ours love broccoli but also eat green beans, carrots, green pepper, and zucchini. They can have a little bit of fruit like strawberries, blueberries, and even banana! But these beardies don't seem to like fruit. The other 20% of their diet is protein that comes from insects. Ours prefer live insects but will eat freeze-dried if they have to. We can NEVER give them insects from the yard because they could contain pesticides/poisons that could harm our pets. All our insects must come from a reputable and clean source.

Can they bite? Yes. They have mouths with teeny-tiny teeth and they CAN bite. However, I've only been bitten one time by Iggy (who was still considered a juvenile at the time) and he thought my finger was food. It should be noted that I was sitting on the floor and he was crawling around exploring. Did it hurt? I think it surprised me more than it hurt. It felt like a pinch or a pin-stick but it did not even break the skin or leave a mark.

Professor and Iggy are both males so we cannot keep them together or let them out at the same time. They are solitary animals and males will fight for dominance. Two females could live in the same habitat or a male/female - but never two males. And no, I do not want a female dragon for two reasons. One, they can lay unfertilized eggs that can become impacted inside their bodies and cause death. And two, IF the eggs were to be fertilized, I do NOT want to raise a nest full of baby beardies!

Professor and Iggy sometimes like to get out of their enclosures and run around the classroom. I only let them do this if students are quiet and promise to remain seated; if the floor is clean from dirt and small bits of trash; and if the dragons feel like it. They also have a playpen for a change of scenery. However, they cannot stay out too long because they will become cold, especially on the concrete school floor.

Can students hold them? YES!!! But ONLY with my permission while I am standing there supervising and they MUST wash their hands afterward! Students must remember to always pet DOWN from head to tail and never "up" or against the scales because this could harm the dragon's skin. Also, if a dragon is shedding, do NOT pick or peel the dead skin off. It needs to fall off naturally so as not to hurt the new skin underneath. Students should be aware that dragons have sharp nails that can scratch, much like a cat. If they get scratched because the dragon was trying to climb up to their shoulder, they should remember to wash the scratch with soap and water, and of course, wash their hands!

I'm sure your child will love learning about our beardies and will even take a few pictures throughout the year! I encourage them to explore more about beardies and their natural environment in Australia because it ties in with our studies on ecosystems! Happy learning!