Who am I and why am I here?Who am I and why am I here?

• Michael Fuchs

• Physics Teacher at Boulder High

• Former Aerospace Engineer

• I’m here to talk about my high school teaching experience

Presentation Pre-testPresentation Pre-test

• How many of you are interested in becoming a high school physics teacher?

One Teacher’s StoryOne Teacher’s Story

(How many students must a man (How many students must a man disarm before they call him a disarm before they call him a

teacher?)teacher?)

How I got into teachingHow I got into teaching

• I used to be like some of you

• Worked aerospace after sophomore year

• Eclipses, neighbors, and eggs

• I never wanted to be an engineer anyway

Structure of Science DepartmentStructure of Science Department

• 13 teachers

• Physical Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, Botany, Anatomy, Environmental Science

• Department head – no release time

• $9000 per year to cover supplies, photocopying, equipment, etc.

Physics CoursesPhysics Courses

• Regular – 187 students – 6 sections

• Honors – 46 students – 2 sections

• AP B - 12 students -

• AP C – 12 students – 1 section

• Total – 257 students – 9 sections

• Junior Class – about 450 students

TEXTSTEXTS

Regular Honors, AP B AP C

Three Physics TeachersThree Physics Teachers

• Two teach two sections each

• I have all physics

StructureStructure

• Full load is 5 classes

• Classes meet 5 days/week

• Day is from 7:30 to 3:00

• Seven periods/day, 55 minutes each

• Few teachers have a room to call their own

Less than good sideLess than good side

• Meetings

• Grading

• Lab setup

• Switching rooms

• Long hours

• The occasional jerky student

• The occasional jerky parent

Good sideGood side

• Get to talk about what I love

• Students are fun

• Sometimes they give you stuff

• Nobody tells me what to do

• Time “off”

• The money isn’t all that bad

Can Always Do More Can Always Do More

• F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition

2003

20042004

2005

2006

Teacher in ResidenceTeacher in Residence

• Sit in on reformed classes

• Work with learning assistants

• Rework labs

• Hallway exhibits

• Mentor teachers

Non-typical but interesting storiesNon-typical but interesting stories

• Same sex kiss-a-thon

• Political sit-in

• Visit by Secret Service

What does the future hold?What does the future hold?

• Fourteen years later, still work to be done

Presentation Post-testPresentation Post-test

• How many of you are interested in becoming a high school physics teacher?