I grew up with lots and lots of pets - dogs, cats, guinea pigs. I am one of those lucky people with parents who encouraged a love of nature and discovery. We once spent 45 minutes watching a cicada nymph emerge from its skin, and my sister and I loved to look for tadpoles, lizards, toads, and tree frogs. As an elementary science teacher, I knew I wanted to keep animals in my classroom. My husband and I don't have ANY pets at home, and I've missed it. I thought invertebrates would be an interesting  choice due to their unique traits and care requirements. And so, it began! Now I've got cultures of isopods and springtails, pet millipedes, and a snail terrarium. And I want to expand beyond crustaceans, mollusks, and collembolans. Invertebrate diversity and adaptability is staggering, and I hope to help my students and fellow teachers overcome any squeamishness around leggy and slimy beings. I've got a lot to learn and explore, and I'm only slightly obsessed. :)

Update as of 1/12/2021 I'll still be sharing about my invertebrates, but they have moved to my home garage since COVID-19 closed school in March of 2020.  Hey y'all! I'm April, an elementary science teacher in Texas. I keep one corner of my classroom dedicated to plants and animals. I'll be sharing what works for me in keeping my critters healthy and my students excited. Thanks for reading!