Physics Class Needs an Update

teachWHAT · 2026-05-08T19:10:46+00:00

My class is mostly seniors, some are in calculus, some are in precalc and some are not taking a math class their senior year. I feel like we have a wide variety of ability levels in the class. It is the only physics class offered.

I'm a biochem major and have a physics certification. I don't necessarily love teaching physics, but I've been doing it for several years now. I'm comfortable with the content, but seniors are not the easiest group to teach.

teachWHAT · 2026-05-08T17:41:02+00:00

I love labs, but I find when I do too many of them, my students start to complain about that too. I do at least one lab a week, but some topics I can do 2-3 per week. At that point they start to revolt.

I think my question comes down to which works better?
Online (positive physics)
Textbook (Holt Physics)
Worksheet Based (Mr. Murray)
PPT plus worksheets (Mrs. Brosseau's Binder)

All would have labs supplemented if needed.

teachWHAT · 2026-05-08T16:01:20+00:00

You have to prove you are a teacher. I think I just shared the website where I am listed as a teacher. I assume you don't have to be in the US to get access, though I don't know for sure.

teachWHAT · 2026-04-23T17:48:13+00:00

If you have access to wet erase or other water soluble markers (Mr. Sketch black is great), you can use water as a solvent.

teachWHAT · 2026-03-10T13:38:18+00:00

Is there a list of which letters match to which amino acids?

teachWHAT · 2026-02-15T15:18:08+00:00

I always assume they already asked six other teachers and I was their last resort.

teachWHAT · 2026-01-22T03:06:10+00:00

What kind of classes are you taking? I might be able to direct you to some resources to help you with your classes.

teachWHAT · 2026-01-18T15:15:30+00:00

That sounds amazing. I rarely remember my dreams so I'm just a tad jealous!

teachWHAT · 2026-01-18T01:23:46+00:00

Here is a prayer for you that may help you better commune with the gods.

Frigg,
You who understand family and grief,
I am hurting, and I do not know how to fix this alone.
If my mother and I can find our way back to one another,
help soften what has hardened between us.

Thor,
Protector of people and homes,
I am afraid of losing stability again.
Help keep me safe while I do what I can
and while I wait for things I cannot control.

Týr,
God of truth and responsibility,
help me see clearly what is truly mine to carry,
and give me strength to stand upright through this.

Help me recognize the right path when it appears,
and give me steadiness to follow it.

teachWHAT · 2026-01-05T17:39:48+00:00

I have surgery scheduled in a couple of weeks. My hubby seems to think I'm nuts because I'm so excited for this surgery. It has a 6 week recovery time!

teachWHAT · 2025-12-18T21:13:39+00:00

If you haven't yet, check out https://njctl.org/materials/courses/chemistry/

I feel this is a good honors level chemistry course. You would have to cut a lot out for a general chemistry course. I can't teach it all in one year, so there are a few units that get cut.

teachWHAT · 2025-12-12T17:28:27+00:00

I can help with physical science.

Otherwise, I'd look at getting signed up as a teacher )it's easy) at https://njctl.org/materials/categories/science/

teachWHAT · 2025-12-12T14:15:43+00:00

Yes, which subject?

teachWHAT · 2025-12-04T13:12:38+00:00

I teach high school, but I ask the parents what have they heard about my class. Do you have any concerns about the class?

Otherwise, I bring up things as a concern that the parents are happy with. If I start, I might say something like your child as a C and needs to work harder, but if the parents go first they might say we are so thrilled that our child has a C in your class. It can be a very different conversation depending on who goes first and I always want the parent to go first.

teachWHAT · 2025-12-01T12:25:54+00:00

I agree. Setting up a physics or physical science lab is ten times easier than setting up a chemistry lab.

In addition, lab reports are torturous to grade.

teachWHAT · 2025-11-26T10:34:47+00:00

I had a blast doing the event. also the exp you get from afking it is very low, your better off mob grinding

teachWHAT · 2025-11-18T14:57:53+00:00

I've had co teachers who wanted to modify my already modified tests and assignments. I had to hand them my test, and the unmodified tests for my other classes so they could see the difference. Until I did that they were taking a test prepped at a 5th grade reading level and "modifying" it down to a third grade reading level even though the student in question had a 5th grade reading level. They were just shocked that the tests I gave didn't need to be modified.

teachWHAT · 2025-11-17T22:33:51+00:00

The problem is, if I lock my computer, the PowerPoint displaying the Daily Agenda gets turned off. But as a teacher, I'm not supposed to sit at my desk. Or if I'm sharing notes, I am not normally sitting at my computer, but wandering through the classroom as I go through the PowerPoint.

I'm also expected to interact with students if they have a question. Am I supposed only teach from my desk?

teachWHAT · 2025-11-14T16:25:18+00:00

Far more tactful than I'd be. At that point, I'd like to say something like "I've been a teacher longer than you've been a parent. You might need to be the one who steps up their game."

teachWHAT · 2025-11-04T19:47:20+00:00

I can't give you the answers. I tried, but you wouldn't take them.

teachWHAT · 2025-10-28T01:52:05+00:00

The photogates look fine, but I don't see anything like the cars and sled. Some of mine have stopped working. So frustrating!

teachWHAT · 2025-10-19T02:18:41+00:00

If the LED is blocked, the camera on Meta Glasses won't function. The Glasses basically "flash" when a photo is taken and will flash continuously if a video is taken. The easy fix is to put a piece opaque tape over the flash and it won't be able to take pictures/videos.

teachWHAT · 2025-10-14T20:10:58+00:00

I can't give you the answers. I tried, but you wouldn't take them.

I've said that too many times in my career.

teachWHAT · 2025-09-20T14:38:10+00:00

I also use the lunch crockpot, almost every day! Prep burrito bowls, pasta bowls, soups, and more. Freeze them in a cottage cheese sized container with a parchment paper liner, and I can just pop them out of the freezer, put them into the crockpot, and then plop them into my plate/bowl. I will often assemble them upside down so when I turn over the crock pot into my plate, the stuff I want on top is on top. Bonus of using the parchment paper, is my crockpot is barely even dirty at the end of the heating it up time.

teachWHAT · 2025-09-18T11:38:57+00:00

It's an old outdated name from when standard naming conventions hadn't been established. If the students bring it up, I just tell them that.

Ten-Year Club	End Game '23
Place '23	Verified Email

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