Welcome to the class! Let me introduce myself.

My name is Catherine Haslag (pronounced Haus log) and I am excited to have you all in my class this semester. Before introducing yourself to the class, I would like to tell you a little about me. I am from a little town in Missouri called Bonnots Mill. I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Missouri State University. After graduating, I worked for about 6 years as an environmental consultant. The work was interesting, but I really missed teaching. I taught several classes while I was in graduate school at Missouri State. I also taught an intro chemistry class at the local community college in Springfield, MO for 4 semesters. I loved teaching and wanted a career change, so in January 2011, I moved to Minnesota and started working at Riverland. I love Minnesota and I enjoy teaching at Riverland. I have a passion for chemistry and education that I hope you will see as you proceed through this course.

I enjoy biking, camping, crocheting, reading, yoga, cross-country skiing, kayaking, traveling, hiking, writing, photography, and listening to music. I am also a podcast addict. If you are looking for a good podcast, I recommend The Anthropocene Reviewed, The Memory Palace, More Perfect, Sounds Like a Cult, and Revisionist History. I have traveled to 36 US states and 15 countries. I participated in RAGBRAI twice, and in Fall 2018, I bike-camped the Paul Bunyan Trail from Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park (approximately 120 miles total). I took the photo featured at the top of this page during a trip to Door County, Wisconsin in 2022. In 2016, I was fortunate to give a talk at TedxHoracePark about the importance of the science fair.

Pequot Lakes, MN – Biking the Paul Bunyan Trail in 2018.

The Power of a Hypothesis – TEDx talk in 2016

Currently, I am reading Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivey Ross; The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez; and Who’s Your Founding Father by David Fleming. If you have read any good books, I am open to recommendations.

My cats, Piney (top photo) and Goldie (bottom photo), bring me joy. They bring a sense of playfulness and presence to my life, and they are always in the moment.

When you communicate with me, please call me Catherine or Ms. Haslag, whichever you feel most comfortable using.

My Teaching Philosophy

Chemistry is everywhere and essential to everyone. The study of chemistry can be challenging but also rewarding and fun. As an educator, I aim to help you understand course concepts and develop an appreciation for chemistry in everyday life by providing a fun and student-focused environment.

I believe this class is a journey you are taking to gain knowledge and understanding of chemistry. I am here to set the academic standards and assist you in meeting those standards. I don’t enjoy watching a student fail. I would love to see all my students get an A, but I won’t lower academic standards. I don’t give grades. You earn them.

I understand many of you are timidly entering this course. Please leave your fear and preconceptions about science courses at the door (or login screen, as the case may be), as they will only limit your performance in this course. I strive to provide a safe and comfortable environment for students to learn. Please come with an open mind, ready to learn, and you will be amazed at what you can do.

Everyone is here to learn. Making mistakes is an inherent part of the learning process. Therefore, it is essential to be respectful of everyone to create a comfortable classroom environment and facilitate learning.

I am a resource to help you.

I am a resource to help you succeed in this course. Please use me. You can also meet with me by appointment. I enjoy meeting with students. Please reach out to me if you need help. My contact information is located at the top of the syllabus.

I understand students live busy lives and have many responsibilities. Please let me know if you need help with organization, scheduling, or developing other skills/accessing basic needs to succeed in your education and life. I am happy to help.

I have provided you with many resources to help you be a better student and learner. I encourage you to look around this space and utilize any resources you find useful. Let me know if you need any help developing skills to be a better student. I am happy to support you in your personal and professional growth. Below are a few resources you will hopefully find useful.

Tips to Succeeding in a Chemistry Course

Organization and Planning Tips and Tools for Students

I look forward to working with you this semester. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Let me know what I can do to help.

Catherine

P.S. If you are taking a class with me in the fall semester and would like to start the semester off with 10 bonus points, email me by 11:59 pm on August 30 and tell me the title of one of the books I am currently reading. Please don’t tell anyone about this opportunity. Let them find it just like you did. 🙂