tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post4997566136571408752..comments2024-03-21T05:30:03.220-04:00Comments on Science teacher: "Scientists" never said that, experts diddoylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12901661320505882735noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-12168647844991126402012-12-22T17:56:43.777-05:002012-12-22T17:56:43.777-05:00Dear Kathryn,
It is, indeed, madness.
Not sure h...Dear Kathryn,<br /><br />It is, indeed, madness.<br /><br />Not sure how much longer I can stay in the game, but for now I will follow your advice and ignore the tests.<br /><br />I teach science.doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12901661320505882735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-21871530490915837662012-12-17T22:02:01.750-05:002012-12-17T22:02:01.750-05:00I'm done worrying about the stupid tests. My...I'm done worrying about the stupid tests. My district just decided that the final exam will not be factored into the student's course grade. It won't matter to them but it is part of my appraisal. Madness!!!<br /><br />If I wash out, it won't be because I wasn't hard-working, dedicated, and occasionally inspirational. If I wash out due to APPR, perhaps they will find a better teacher for my students.<br /><br />Chemistry is not a direct experience science. I'm about convinced that the reason students are required to learn Chemistry is so that they can learn to think abstractly. Of what practical use is knowing about a proton or an isotope? Try convincing an adolescent that they should care esp. when the exam doesn't matter.Kathryn Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16757414380685368592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-60044101081548624932012-12-16T22:07:05.512-05:002012-12-16T22:07:05.512-05:00I'm annoyed at that sample question for anothe...I'm annoyed at that sample question for another reason. I discounted glucose when I thought about needing "constant" respiration: a sugary drink only gives a temporary boost, then often a crash...Jeffrey Michals-Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11875231268940338643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-75407235048972466312012-12-16T22:02:55.142-05:002012-12-16T22:02:55.142-05:00Did something wrong, whatever, that was me, CarlaDid something wrong, whatever, that was me, CarlaUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07622289685678433962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-33067189841995305112012-12-16T22:01:30.651-05:002012-12-16T22:01:30.651-05:00It is a good life and it is good to know you are t...It is a good life and it is good to know you are there teaching away. I'm laughing at the image of picking up wet somethings from your sink though.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07622289685678433962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-42996791752769240442012-12-16T09:51:21.983-05:002012-12-16T09:51:21.983-05:00Dear gfrblxt (try saying that 3 times fast).
&quo...Dear gfrblxt (try saying that 3 times fast).<br /><br />"Forced to face up to misunderstandings"--explicitly mine--is what makes this teaching thing such a joy. The more you poke this "reality" thing, the more complex (and weirder) it gets.<br /><br />Late afternoons, as the sun streams through my western windows, when it's (finally) quiet, and the various critters start poking their heads out of their shelters; when I pick up yet another piece of wet something out of the sink; when I questioned my sanity (and that of a lot of other humans) hours earlier--I break out in a big grin, smiling like an idiot, alone in my room.<br /><br />It's a good life.doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12901661320505882735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-76780350248468199462012-12-15T11:58:22.792-05:002012-12-15T11:58:22.792-05:00One of the big reasons I'm envious of science ...One of the big reasons I'm envious of science teachers (and why I miss teaching physics badly) - you can much more easily directly <i>experience</i> science. Clamming in the bay or swinging a pendulum - you can be forced to face up to misunderstandings (both yours and that of "experts") about the way the world works.<br /><br />Math, not so much. The practical effect of not being able to factor a quadratic, or plot a line, or do an integral is pretty detached from reality. And any reality attached to it often comes through (yup) science.<br /><br />Keep fighting the good fight.Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01222812519913852182noreply@blogger.com