The era of comic books has begun

White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval of research grants These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque www.scientificamerican.com/article/whit...

It’s truly astonishing to see how comprehensively the US government is tearing down every part of the system that has made it up until now a world-leading power in science, research, and technological development. The entire world will suffer from this wanton destruction.

This is NOT false alarmism... this is an actual 5-alarm fire on science, research and innovation in the US. (In case you didn't think it could get worse... it continues to get worse). Public comment is open NOW. We need to continue to use our voices in what's left of our very broken system.

Very often when teachers select a tool or strategy the reason they share they love it is because "it gets the kids engaged and they have so much fun". We need to recognize that in the ongoing battle for the respectability of our profession, that line of reasoning is harmful to us as professionals.

Worked examples are a powerful tool for supporting student learning early on. These strategies can look like providing examples in full, slowly removing parts of a problem and having students fill in the missing pieces using high quality textbooks (Etkina, Stewart) and even video tutorials.

Diagraming isn't something we *just happen* to do in physics. It is a critical learning tool that is backed by research and allows our students more engagement and depth thanks to cognitive offloading, emergent structure (finding patterns), and reorganization of material to get a new perspective.

I hate when teachers get annoyed over handling student misconceptions. Misconceptions all begin with bits of truth based on experience. Therefore misconceptions are actually incomplete conceptions…with that we can craft the experiences instruct Ss to reasoning their way to the full understanding.

There are several reasons the jigsaw method, when done appropriately, is excellent for student learning. Also, teaching is rigorous, challenging work, so let’s not assume that just because a kid “gets it” they can teach on the fly. The preparation is imperative!

It’s pretty cool when the teacher you frequently refer your students to for AP review is highlighting your project!

Curiosity and the ability to act on that curiosity in the pursuit of new knowledge is at the center of our human story. A question driven classroom is a classroom where meaning and purpose are valued and identity can be formed.

you have to DO physics to get better at DOING physics! The expert game (do it after test 1!), the ZPD, and my big question this summer: I want to know how you support building the skill of critical reflective thinking. I think its an important key!

Social Learning theory posits that humans will model after those who are similar, high-status, knowledgeable, rewarded, or nurturing figures in our lives. What if we leveraged that idea to shape our students' STEM identities?

How do your classrom norms impact your classroom culture of learning?

"The person doing the talking is the person doing the learning" but in order to have a truly fruitful discussion, sharing *must* be paired with listening. How do we support student listening *and* sharing to enhance the experience for all?

What is our ultimate goal as educators? To cram as much knowledge in as possible, or to help in the growth and development of young adults who take ownership of their knowledge in order to act and create with it? The one who is willing to act on their knowledge is the one who is empowered.

You can provide the clearest most detailed lecture, but if Ss lack something to connect the new knowledge to, results are limited. If instead, we allow Ss to engage and reason in a carefully constructed way, and *then* we tell them their comprehension and retention increase dramatically.

Interleaving is when Ss engage in practice which requires them to retrieve from different units/skills. Although this is challenging for students, it leads to better comprehension and retention. AP problems, are great examples of interleaved practice. A few years ago I turned one into a practicum

Hands on is a no brainer in science, but “because it’s fun” isn’t the core reason. By physically engaging students in an experience we prime their brains to become *much* more receptive to direct instruction. It’s the secret sauce to constructivist learning and exceptionally powerful!

Implementing retrieval activities in my classes was one of the easiest high-return strategies I've engaged with. Student confidence increased and testing anxiety decreased. How can we require students to pull out what they know on a test if we never ask them to flex that memory muscle in class?

I've never been so happy that my school uses google classroom and some super archaic gradebook software as I am today 😆

AAPT has been a huge part of my development as an educator since I was a student teacher! So many of my best physics friends are AAPT members and I'm so grateful for this community!

Feedback may be one of the most critical components of teaching and should *definitely not* be limited to the autopsy of the test. My latest in the ABCs of Learning series: F is for Feedback. #ITeachPhysics

I just finished post 8 for the ABCs of How We Learn Physics series! That's 30% completion! E is for Elaboration went live today, look out for F is for Feedback tomorrow! #iTeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/06/a...

Eduinfluencer at institute day made the claim that the avereage teacher can only name and describe 3 evidence-based strategies. We use evidence-based strategies every day, and it's only to our benefit to be able to speak about them like the brilliant professionals we are!

The whole #iTeachPhysics community, honestly. I got to connect with rockstars like @barnettdreyfuss.bsky.social @the-physics-well.net @cossettej.bsky.social @joemilliano.bsky.social @msaphysics.bsky.social @martastoeckel.bsky.social and so many more on Twitter and then got to connect IRL with AAPT.

Intentionally integrating deliberate practice is part of what spawned the idea for this series! Teaching with intention makes ALL the difference!

A new teacher got upset at the claim I heard about teachers not knowing their strategies. I firmly believe that when we can know and name it, we can practice it with TRUE intentionality. That’s why I’m on a mission to name what we do this month!

I recently heard that on avg most Ts can only name and describe three research-based strategies in their classroom. Challenge accepted. I'm going to write about how I used each of 26 strategies in my physics classroom. Here we go! A is for Analogy physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/02/a...

Did a "skill blitz" today for review, focused on linearization/lab FRQ. I think it went well! 5 FRQs and strictly focused on what to graph and what the slope is. More on the blog: physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/01/a... #ITeachPhysics

TODAY: NSF announced a Request for Information (RFI), inviting suggestions and innovations to inform a comprehensive review of its Excellence Awards in Science and Engineering (EASE). This includes PAEMST! Official Link: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.

How do you support genuine learning using online platforms? I have STRONG feelings and paper is my best friend. Learn about the evolution of my paper companions for Pivot Interactives #ITeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/02/07/p...

Teaching Students How to Learn: disguised as "how to score better" I was wonderfully inspired at AAPT winter meeting! I adapted the workshop for my AP students and students were really responsive. Now to see if it sticks over the next few weeks! #ITeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/02/05/t...

We started waves today, and I LOVE this ripple tank simulator (activity included!) #ITeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/02/03/w...

It's retraction day. Let these sit with you a minute.

Do you use physics classroom? I am ADAMANT about Ss writing things down. I started developing handouts to accompany some of the activities in physics classroom to get Ss thinking, and provide a way to support them with feedback. #ITeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/02/01/w...

I tried a riff on an old trick and something new to get my students really thinking about their thinking while working through AP FRQs. It involves working the FRQ in rounds and a reflection follow up physicsteachermomma.com/2026/01/31/a... #IteachPhysics

Get $$$ To come to AAPT! Applications due Fri! The Barbara Wolff-Reichert award is for a FIRST TIMER 100% funded! The LIPTON FUND has been redesigned and is now for a RETURNING member & will cover expenses for 2 meetings in 2 consecutive years. More info: www.aapt.org/Programs/gra...

I’ve never hoped so hard in my alumni life for Harvard’s institutional ego to dominate decision-making www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

This year a cohort of HS teachers were selected via application to attend PTRA Bootcamp. The goal of PTRA is for teachers to train other teachers to teach physics. This group was fully funded to attend the workshop and also received financial support to stay for the full AAPT meeting! #AAPTSM25

Getting my new space set up! #iTeachPhysics

🚨 #PAEMST, the nation's highest honor for STEM teachers, has been DEFUNDED in the new NSF budget. This award was est by Reagan in 1983. This award fuels classroom innovation, strengthens the STEM pipeline, and uplifts excellence in every community.

Teachers, choose your one liners carefully. Students remember them forever. What does your one liner say about you? Ones I remember from my teachers: "The answer's always one, it just depends which units you use" "The college board is the richest nonprofit in the US" "The answer is always enzymes"

If you’re a physics educator who uses the word “intuitive” to describe physics you are part of the problem in physics culture. Because if we are honest it’s not intuitive at all.

NSF put our names back up on the PAEMST website, but not our bios which are now under review. I am certain that the boxed part of bio is going to be erased. The government is literally erasing our stories.

Note making a la Building Thinking Classrooms + ISLE. This is the missing link that pulls together an active learning environment and collaborative white boarding with notes that actually mean something and a reason to dig into the textbook. Students receive these at the lesson’s end #iteachphysics

Since it’s that season and schools are under attack more than ever In just gonna throw out there that taxes are just following a bunch of monotonous rules and directions. I can guarantee 16 year old you wouldn’t have paid attention if it was an option in school.

I created three lesson plans on the fly for one class of students yesterday. It was a lot, but it was also really satisfying physicsteachermomma.com/2025/02/08/t...

What a great day. A math colleague who does Building Thinking Classrooms picked up my 8th hour today, so my lesson can actually run!