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!

Week 15 Blog, Due Sunday, December 16th, 2012

Because I am thankful for the great students I have in my PreAp/GT classes this year, I am giving you a holiday from blogging this weekend.  Instead, I want you to work on your egg drop projects.  Remember, it survives or it doesn't (0 or 100).  You may only use hot glue and standard sized toothpicks.  If you use anything else, it is an automatic ZERO!  Also, it is an automatic zero if you empty or boil the egg.  The egg must remain unaltered.  If you have any questions, please let me know!  Have a great weekend!

Week 14 Blog, Due Sunday, December 09, 2012 by 11:00 PM

I hope you are all having a great year so far.  I can't believe how fast it is going!  Our most recent topic has been energy.  So far, we have talked about Kinetic Energy (KE), Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE), and Mechanical Energy (ME).  These, however, are not the only types of energy around us.  For this week's blog, I want you to think about some other types of energy plus those we have spoke of.  Some other types of energy include Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Energy in a spring, Thermal Energy, Chemical Energy, etc..  Look at the world around you and describe something in which an energy transformation is taking place.  (An energy transformation is when one form of energy is turned into another form such as Solar Energy to Thermal Energy.)  If you have any questions or problems posting your comments, please let me know BEFORE 4:00 pm on Sunday.  As always, you can email your response if you have problems.  Remember, in order to receive full credit, you must post an original comment PLUS comment on someone else's comment.  Happy Blogging!

Week 13 Blog, Due Sunday, December 2nd by 11:00 PM

We have already completed almost 13 weeks of school.  The first 9 weeks we did not have tablets in the classroom, but for the past four week's we have used the android tablets just about every day.  What I would like for you to do for this weeks blog is discuss the following:
1. Do you like/not like having the tablets and why.
2. Has your grade improved or gone down since we started using the tablets and why.
3. Anything you would like us to try with the tablets that we have not done so far.
4. Do you think we rely on the tablets too much or its just right.
5.  Anything else you want to add.
Remember, you need to post an original comment as well as comment on another person's blog to receive full credit for the week.  If you have any questions or problems, you need to let me know BEFORE Sunday evening by email, twitter, or Google voice (281-310-0940).  Happy Blogging!

Week 12 Blog, Due Sunday, November 18th by 11:00 PM

Now that the school science fair is over, I would like you to reflect on your project.  What did you do well?  What would you do differently now that it is over?  What grade would you give yourself?  When deciding your own grade think of the following guidelines:
1. The originality of your idea
2. The amount of quality time you spent on your project outside of class
3. The amount of effort you put into developing your idea and display
4. The quality of your lab notebook
5. The effort put forth by you compared to your partners, if you had any
6. The level of difficulty of your topic
I would like to congratulate the following groups for moving on to the district level science fair:
Cynthia Leuvano, Jessica Ipina, and Kimberly Gutierrez
Ivonne Castillo and Breanna Gariet
Nathan Ponce, Edward Lucio, and Elida Rodriguez
Remember, in order to receive full credit for the blog, you must post an original comment as well as comment on another person's post.  All posts must be complete by 11:00 pm Sunday in order to receive full credit.  If you have any problems posting, you must let me know BEFORE 4:00 pm on Sunday.  Otherwise, email your posts to me at physicswithego@gmail.com.  Happy Posting!

Week 11 Blog, Due Sunday, November 11, 2012

We have been talking about many different forces throughout the week.  I would like to know which force(s) and/or concepts are the most confusing for you.  If you believe you have mastered all of the types of forces we have talked about and know the concepts equally as well, pick an object or situation and make some observations.  Tell me what the object or situation is and then tell me the forces involved, the approximate magnitude of each force, and in which direction each force is acting.  Remember, your post must be complete by 11:00 pm on Sunday for full credit.  You must make an original comment and comment on at least one other post for full credit.  Late posts will be reduced to half credit.  If you have any problems or have questions, please let me know by 4:00 pm Sunday.  May the force be with you!