Week #13 Blog, Due Sunday, December 1st by 11:00 pm

Since many of you are still struggling to keep up with the notes and the assignments, we need to do some reflecting.  So, for this weeks blog, you must answer ALL of the following questions:

1.  What does PreAP mean?  That is, what makes a class PreAP?  How does a PreAP class compare to a regular level class?
2. What are the benefits of being in a PreAP class vs. a regular class?
3.  You must give me a valid argument for why you should continue to be in a PreAP class.  You must use supporting statements.  What are you willing to do to stay in a PreAP class?  What do you need to change going forward to be more successful?

Remember, the work load will not decrease. Starting December 1st, there will only be makeup work for missed assignments.  In order to get credit for the makeup assignment it must be completed within ONE WEEK of the missed assignment.  There is NO MORE EXTRA CREDIT after December 1st.  The last day for test corrections will be December 3rd.  If you are absent, you are expected to check edmodo for any work you may have missed.  You should know and be comfortable with the routine and the expectations of this class by now, so this safety net should no longer be needed.  If you do not give me a good argument for your remaining in PreAP, you will be moved to a regular level class OR you will remain in my class, but be re-classified as a regular level physics student and the work you will receive will be that of a regular physics class.  If you have questions, you need to ask me BEFORE the due date.  Remember, if you have trouble posting to the blog website, you can email your responses to physicswithego@gmail.com or respond on edmodo.com.  In order to receive full credit, you must post an original comment and reply to at least one other comment.  Happy Blogging!

Week 10 Blog, Due Sunday, November 3rd by 11:00 pm

This week we finally used our mousetrap cars in our lab practicum.  The purpose of the lab practicum was to prove whether or not your mousetrap car had uniform acceleration.  Some of you discovered that your cars did not travel in a straight line and that made data collection more difficult.  Some of you had cars that barely went 1 meter.  For this weeks blog, I want you to reflect on the construction of your car, the ability to collect good data for the analysis, and the actual motion of your car (uniform acceleration and non-uniform acceleration).  How successful was your car and experiment?  What difficulties did you encounter?  What would you do differently if you had a chance to do it over?  Or any other aspect you want to discuss.  Remember, keep it friendly and avoid texting language.  In order to receive full credit you must post an original comment plus reply to one other person's comment.  If you have trouble posting to the blog, you can always email your comment and reply to physicswithego@gmail.com, reply on edmodo.com, or email me through the aldine website.  Happy Blogging!

Week 9 Blog, Due Sunday, October 27th, 2013 by 11:00 pm

We have been working with translating graphs from a description of motion to qualitative p-t graphs, v-t graphs, a-t graphs and motion maps.  What has been the greatest difficulty for you?  Are you still struggling with any of them?  If so, which ones?  Next week we will be moving into the quantitative graphs (numbers and calculations), so if you are having a lot of trouble without numbers, you need to stay for tutorials.  Remember, each unit builds on the previous unit so it is very important for you to have mastered the concepts we have covered so far.  I am here to help you, but you need to put in the effort for real learning to occur.  Remember, if you have trouble posting on this site, you can post your comment and reply on edmodo.com or email me your comment and reply to physicswithego@gmail.com, or use twitter, or text me.  In order to receive Full Credit on the blog, you need to post an original Comment PLUS a Reply to someone else's comment.  Happy Blogging!

Week 8 Blog, Due Sunday, October 20th by 11:00 pm

We are almost finished with the first 9 weeks!  Time is flying by!  This week I want you to reflect on the notes and labs you have done and put in your interactive notebook.  If you were me and you were going to grade your own notebook, what grade do you think it deserves?  How useful are the notes you have put into it so far?  Do your notes help you with the homework assignments, studying for tests, completing warm ups, etc?  If your notebook has not been a useful tool for you to use in or out of the classroom, what needs to change to make it useful?  Remember, I will be looking at your notebook on either Tuesday or Wednesday so don't tell me its the best notebook ever and then have nothing in it.  Blog Reminders: You must post and original comment PLUS comment on someone else's notebook in order to receive full credit for the blog.  If you have questions, you must contact be BEFORE Sunday evening.  If you have trouble posting to blogger, post your comment and replies on edmodo.com or send it to me in an email at physicswithego@gmail.com.  Happy Blogging!

Week 7 Blog, Due Sunday, October 13th, by 11:00 pm

This week we started Unit 3: Uniform acceleration.  We are still graphing position vs. time(p-t) and velocity vs. time (v-t).  I want you to compare and contrast the p-t and v-t graphs from the constant velocity unit (unit 2) with p-t and v-t graphs from the uniform acceleration unit (unit 3).  Discuss the differences and explain why you think the graphs look differently (specifically, what is going on with the object's motion to cause the change in the graphs.)  Since I am posting this blog late, I am going to give you a few extra days to get it done.  Your comments and replies need to be posted by Wednesday night.  If you have questions, please let me know.  Remember, if you have trouble posting, you can post your comments and replies on edmodo.com under the link to the blog.  You can also email your response to me through the district website or gmail, respond on twitter, or text your responses.  In order to receive full credit, you must post an ORIGINAL comment PLUS a REPLY to another person's report.  Keep it friendly and clean and most of all, no texting language.  Happy Blogging!

Week 6 Blog, Due October 6th by 11:00 pm

Now that we have taken our first test, it is time for you to reflect on your grade.  If you did not do very well, why do you think you didn't do well.  If you did well, what is it you did to be successful?  Going forward, what are you going to do to either get a higher grade on the next test or maintain the high grade you have already. What is your goal for this class?  What are you still having trouble with?  What is your plan for future success?  Remember, you must post an original comment AND reply to someone else's comment to receive full credit.  If you have any questions or problems, remember, you can contact me by email or on edmodo.  Happy Blogging!

Week 5, Due Sunday, September 29th by 11:00 pm

Last year, I assigned a mousetrap car project to my physics students.  I want to know if you are interested in doing the mousetrap cars.  It would be a major grade assignment.  At this time, I am not planning on assigning this project, but I want to know what all of you think.  If you didn't want it to be a required project/grade, I would consider maybe offering it as an extra credit project.  Please answer honestly, as I do not want to assign the project if most of you really do not want to do it.  The project would involve building a mousetrap car and then applying Newton's Three Laws to its motion.  I would also have to travel at least 5m to get full credit.  Let me know what you think.  Remember, you must post an ORIGINAL comment and REPLY to someone else's post in order to receive full credit.  As always, if you have trouble posting on the blog, you can email me through the district website, at physicswithego@gmail.com, on twitter, or on edmodo.com. Happy Blogging!

Week 4 Blog, Due Sunday, September 22nd by 11 pm

This week I am introducing the concepts of distance vs. displacement, scalar vs. vector quantities, and speed vs. velocity.  Think about these concepts as they are important to your everyday life.  Compare and contrast at least one of the concepts mentioned above.  If you have questions, please let me know.  Remember to post an original comment and comment on someone else's blog entry for full credit.  If you have trouble posting, remember you can send me an email or post it on edmodo.com. Happy Blogging!

Week 3 Blog, Due Sunday, September 15th by 11:00 pm

Since we have been reviewing basic math skills the past couple of weeks, I want you to think about the metric system.  This week's blog post is going to be a metric system scavenger hunt!  You only have to find or guesstimate one of the following measurements.  Have fun, keep it clean, and remember to make an original comment and reply to someone else's post.  NO DOUBLES, so you have to come up with your own item.  If you have any trouble posting, remember, you can post your comment and reply in edmodo, post it to twitter, text it to me, or send me an email with your responses.

Something that has a mass of 3 kilograms.
Something that has a mass of 75 kilograms.
Something with the circumference of 2 meters.
Something with the length of 50 meters.
A place 2 kilometers from school.
A place 24 kilometers from school.
Something with a height of 20 meters.
Something with a height of 4 centimeters.

Remember, you only have to find an object for one of the measurements, not all of them.
Happy Blogging!

Hello and welcome to the new school year!  For our first blog, I would like to learn a little more about each of you and your interests.  

What is your goal for this year?

What clubs, sports, or extracurricular activities are you currently involved?

What other hobbies or activities do you like to do outside of school?

Do you have a job?

What would you like to know about me, Mrs. Ego?

Remember to adhere to the following guidelines:
1. No texting language, use correct spelling and grammar and complete sentences.
2. Keep it clean!  Remember I can show it to your parent or guardian.
3. Be supportive of one another and appropriate in your replies.  No bullying or putting anyone down.
4. Comments must be made by 11:00 pm, Sunday, September 8th, 21013.
5. If you have trouble posting, comment on edmodo.com, or send me an email at physicswithego@gmail.com. 
Happy Blogging!

If you have any questions, please let me know! Thanks!

Physics Modeling Workshop Actiities

These are some of the inquiry activities we have been doing in my workshop!
Sorry, I can't get the video to work and I can't figure out how to delete it :/

New York City!!

Physics Modeling Workshop: Day 3

Hello, I hope the summer finds you all doing well and getting prepared for another school year.  First, I have to thank Fund for Teachers for allowing me to experience this great opportunity in New York City.  It would not have been possible without the grant I received from this organization.  Next year will be very exciting and very different for those of you who are going to be in my AP Physics class.  I finished my 3rd day of my modeling in physics workshop today and I already feel like I have learned so much!  I still have 12 more days to go, but the lessons I am learning are going to be invaluable to my teaching.  In my down time, I have been exploring all New York City has to offer.  I have been greatly inspired to incorporate my explorations into the physics curriculum.  Two of these ideas are video analysis of the motion of the subway trains and estimating the height of some of the tall buildings.  I can't wait until the next school year to put all of these ideas into practice and to share my experience with all of you.  I know the instruction is going to be very different from what you are used to, but I think it will be a much more enjoyable experience and will help you all grow so much more in your understanding of physics and make you better thinkers overall which is my ultimate goal!  If you have any questions or comments about my fellowship so far, feel free to leave a comment below.  Check back on Sunday, I am going to upload some pictures!  Until then, take care!

End of the Year Survey

I would really like to hear your feedback about your experiences in my class this year.  If you would please take the following survey, I would really appreciate it.  The survey is anonymous, so please be honest.  I cannot make changes unless I know how you honestly feel.  Thank you!
End of the year survey

Week 27 Blog, Due Sunday, March 24, 2013

As you start planning your classes for next year, which science class interests you?  Why do you feel this is the best choice for you? Does it tie in to a possible future career?  Are you just looking to have an easy senior year?  Something to keep in mind, an AP class could help you build a strong foundation for college coursework, even if you don't pass the test.   Remember, you must post one original comment PLUS comment on some one else's post to receive full credit.  Happy Blogging! Science Classes offered next year are:  AP Physics, AP Biology, Aquatic, Environmental Systems, and Astronomy.  Other classes that can be counted as a fourth science are Anatomy & Physiology and Medical Microbiology.

Week 24 Blog, Due Sunday, March 3rd, 2013

The blog is back!  I know you've missed it.  This week we have been talking about waves and wave behaviors.  I want you to think about these concepts as you go through your life everyday.  Where are there examples of waves?  How about the different wave behaviors, reflection, refraction, doppler effect, diffraction, polarization, constructive or destructive interference, or resonance?  Give at least one example of a wave, wave characteristic (period or frequency) or a wave behavior that occurs in your everyday life.  It must be ORIGINAL, not copied from someone else.  For full credit, you must give one original comment PLUS comment on at least one other person's post.  Remember, it is due by 11:00 pm Sunday night.  If you have problems posting, you can always email me your responses at physicswithego@gmail.com.  If you have questions, please let me know.  Happy Blogging!

Week 21 Blog, Due Sunday, February 11th, 2013

Thinking ahead to TAKS, we have gone over cells, cell parts, DNA, and RNA. Log into this website to play a review game over cells, cell parts, and cell functions: http://www.neok12.com/quiz-games.htm (you will need to copy and paste the link into your browser).  Under life sciences, click on cell structures.  Play at least two different quiz games.  For your blog entry, I want you to tell me how you did.  I do not need a score or specific number wrong, I just want you to tell me if it was easy for you and you got most of them correct or you had a hard time and need more review over the material.  If you did not do so well, I would like to know what you plan to do going forward to ensure success on this objective on the actual test in April.  Remember, in order to get full credit, you must complete one original comment AND comment on at least one other post.  If you have any problems, let me know BEFORE the 11 pm deadline.  Happy Blogging! FYI: I posted the link in the Edmodo folder for this class as well as under useful sites to the right of this blog under Quiz Review Games.

Week 20 Blog, Due Sunday, February 3rd, by 11:00 pm

This week we have talked about heat, temperature, and heat transfer.  For this week's blog, I want you to make observations of the world around  you.  Give an example of heat transfer in your everyday life.  Make sure you give a description of the heat transfer that is occurring as well as what type of heat transfer it is.  Your example must be original and not copied from someone else's post.  Remember, for full credit you need to include one original comment as well as comment on at least one other person's comment.  If you have any problems, please let me know by 5:00 pm Sunday.  If you have trouble posting, you can email me your response or give me your response on twitter @EgoIsAwesome.  Happy Blogging!

Week 19 Blog, Due Sunday, January 27th, 2013

As we gear up for our exit level TAKS test, I want everyone to think about what is required to be commended.  Remember, in order to exempt the second semester final for physics, you need to get commended performance on your science TAKS test.  So, I want you to think about which objective is your weakest and what are you going to do reach the commended level.  Some things to think about are after school tutorials, classroom attendance, completing classwork, studying on your own time, etc..  You may also want to reflect on anything you are going to do differently this semester, especially if you barely pasted the first semester.  This is your chance at a fresh start!  Remember, you must post at least one original comment PLUS comment on at least one other person's post in order to get full credit.  If you have questions or any problems posting, please let me know BEFORE 5 pm Sunday.  As always, if you have trouble posting, you can email me your responses.  Happy Blogging!