The end of the year is near. You can feel it in the chaotic hallways. Yearbooks are being passed out. Teachers have the end of the year craziness condensed into a schedule complete with field day, extra daily duties, and
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Bringing Culture Into Class
When I picture my ideal science classroom, I see all of my students’ different perspectives and cultures coming together as we explore the ever changing world of science. I want my students to see themselves in the content we are
Read MoreSnakes In A Classroom?
Snakes on a plane? No way! Snakes in a classroom? YES!! I have a snake in my 7th grade science classroom. His name is Sssteve and he is a ball python. The kids LOVE him! I was able
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Seeing Each Other, Masks or No Masks
Co-written with guest bloggers Elizabeth Buchmann and Christina Bustos Tonight, we expect to hear whether our district will continue requiring masks in school or make them optional. The statewide mask mandate in K-12 schools has been revoked. Tonight we speak
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“Do Something Every Day to Follow Your Dream”
For the last year I have been on a journey into the life of a man I did not know, but who has taught me a lot about myself and the history of us as Americans and explorers. In
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AZ – SB 1051 – The High-Quality Teacher Pilot Program
SB1038 came about because Arizona schools were no longer offering physics. As teachers left, schools chose to eliminate programs as there was no one to teach this subject. We eventually got down to 159 certified and active physics teachers teaching
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The Arizona Leaky STEM Pipeline
My wish for the next group of elected state officials is to adopt a growth mindset when you take on your new roles. But even more specifically, my hope is that this new crop will adopt a growth mindset
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Physics and Public Policy – Our Brief Story
In 2016 a small band of physics teachers got together to address the problem of a rapidly dwindling supply of qualified physics teachers in the state of Arizona. This team took it upon themselves to go straight to the capitol
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THE LAST STUDENT TEACHER
I have a student teacher this semester. His name is Brandon and he is currently the only student teacher for Physics in the state of Arizona. Like the last Jedi, he has the force inside of him to do good,
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The Emotional Quotient of Education
As we start part two of the school year, I am reminded that what we do isn’t always about the rote memorization or the regurgitation of facts. It’s about teaching kids to be good human beings. It’s about instilling values
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