Curious Minds Science Club - Learn, Have Fun & Socialize!

**IMPORTANT - I will be on a leave of absence from April 25, 2022 to July 25, 2022. During this time, I will be unable to teach and will have limited availability to respond to messages during this time. If you do have any questions or concerns, please feel free to message me, and please allow me 2-3 business days to respond. I am looking forward to working with you when I return!

"Don't study because you need to. Study because knowledge is power. Study because they can never take it away from you. Study because you want to know more. Study because it enhances you. Study because it grows you." -Unknown

Hello, and welcome! I cannot tell you how excited I am that you are here. My name is Ashley, and I have a passion for teaching all things science-related! I have a special interest in biology, chemistry, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and psychology as it relates to human health. 

I believe my love for teaching stems from my love of learning! I hold three degrees - a Bachelor's of Science in Microbiology and Psychology from Arizona State University and a Doctorate of Pharmacy from Pacific University. Throughout my academic career, I have always sought out opportunities to be involved in education. I have been teaching professionally for over three years now, and before that, I spent five years tutoring students in math and science as well as hosting science fairs and experiments for children ages 4 to 17. I love performing experiments in class and providing hands-on activities - anything to get children engaged and active in the learning process!

My biggest goal for your child is for them to be excited to learn! I know, from personal experience, that education can open many doors in life. Depending on the person, science can feel intimidating, boring, or some mixture of the two. My goal is to make science just the opposite - exciting and fun! My belief is that learning how to "think like a scientist" can help students excel in all subject areas. In science, we get to have fun by asking questions, solving problems, and even - making discoveries! 

I know students learn in many different ways. There are many paths to reach the right answer. 2+2=4 just as 3+1=4! I want to embrace your child's own individual learning styles. I encourage students to ask questions and make comments. Discussions among myself and peers are a great way to solidify a concept or gain clarification. 

When I am not busy teaching (or thinking up experiments!), I am busy being a wife and mom to my three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. We enjoy exploring different hiking trails and traveling. The world sure is beautiful! I also have THREE adorable and very energetic cats! 

I sincerely want to thank you for your interest in my classes and for considering me as your child's teacher. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. You can expect a reply between the hours of 7 am PST to 7 pm PST Monday through Friday. I look forward to seeing your child in my classroom very soon! 

All the best,
Ashley