who am i and why am i here?
Post on 06-Jan-2016
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Who am I and why am I here?Who am I and why am I here?
• Michael Fuchs
• Physics Teacher at Boulder High
• Former Aerospace Engineer
• I’m here to talk about my high school teaching experience
Presentation Pre-testPresentation Pre-test
• How many of you are interested in becoming a high school physics teacher?
One Teacher’s StoryOne Teacher’s Story
(How many students must a man (How many students must a man disarm before they call him a disarm before they call him a
teacher?)teacher?)
How I got into teachingHow I got into teaching
• I used to be like some of you
• Worked aerospace after sophomore year
• Eclipses, neighbors, and eggs
• I never wanted to be an engineer anyway
Structure of Science DepartmentStructure of Science Department
• 13 teachers
• Physical Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, Botany, Anatomy, Environmental Science
• Department head – no release time
• $9000 per year to cover supplies, photocopying, equipment, etc.
Physics CoursesPhysics Courses
• Regular – 187 students – 6 sections
• Honors – 46 students – 2 sections
• AP B - 12 students -
• AP C – 12 students – 1 section
• Total – 257 students – 9 sections
• Junior Class – about 450 students
TEXTSTEXTS
Regular Honors, AP B AP C
Three Physics TeachersThree Physics Teachers
• Two teach two sections each
• I have all physics
StructureStructure
• Full load is 5 classes
• Classes meet 5 days/week
• Day is from 7:30 to 3:00
• Seven periods/day, 55 minutes each
• Few teachers have a room to call their own
Less than good sideLess than good side
• Meetings
• Grading
• Lab setup
• Switching rooms
• Long hours
• The occasional jerky student
• The occasional jerky parent
Good sideGood side
• Get to talk about what I love
• Students are fun
• Sometimes they give you stuff
• Nobody tells me what to do
• Time “off”
• The money isn’t all that bad
Can Always Do More Can Always Do More
• F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition
2003
20042004
2005
2006
Teacher in ResidenceTeacher in Residence
• Sit in on reformed classes
• Work with learning assistants
• Rework labs
• Hallway exhibits
• Mentor teachers
Non-typical but interesting storiesNon-typical but interesting stories
• Same sex kiss-a-thon
• Political sit-in
• Visit by Secret Service
What does the future hold?What does the future hold?
• Fourteen years later, still work to be done
Presentation Post-testPresentation Post-test
• How many of you are interested in becoming a high school physics teacher?
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