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Author Archives: Mr. Bigler
Practical Alternative to “Algebra for All”?
Anyone who has read my blog probably already knows my feelings about high-stakes tests. In a nutshell, I think the tests do more harm than good. I think the tests are emphasizing the wrong skills, and I think we’re teaching … Continue reading
Teacher Crushes
Teacher crushes are a common occurrence. Even if you’ve never had one yourself, you don’t have to ask many people before you find someone who has had a crush on a teacher. And yet, it’s a subject that almost everyone … Continue reading
Gratitude
All of my students (except for two juniors) at Lynn English High School graduated today. Of course I’m proud of them. But more than that, I’m happy for them—happy for the doors that have opened for them and all the … Continue reading
Request to Math Teachers: Teach Graphical Solutions
The instructions seemed adequate: plot your data, draw a best-fit line, and extrapolate the line to find the y-intercept. Graph paper and rulers were available on a table at the front of the classroom. To me, the implication was crystal … Continue reading
Diet Coke & Mentos Final Exam: Physics Version
I gave a chemistry final exam involving Diet CokeTM & MentosTM back in 2006. I’ve done it as a lab experiment a couple of times since then, but not as a final—until this year, when I did a physics version. … Continue reading
Treating Students With Compassion
Several friends on Facebook have asked me to comment on the article entitled Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries new approach to school discipline — suspensions drop 85%. What the article describes is more or less exactly how I … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy
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Tough Love vs. “Tough Shit!”
The lesson from “tough love” teachers is that if you don’t do the work, you can’t master the subject and you fail. Most kids have already learned how to fail. What they need to learn is how not to. +11-4
Shocking My Students
Electricity & Magnetism is a fun topic, especially for teachers who enjoy watching teenagers act like themselves. +9-4
Pushing the Reset Button
On Friday, while I had cafeteria duty, I noticed a girl with a bruise on her face. I asked her what had happened. She said with a sheepish half-smile, “I got into a fight. But don’t worry. It wasn’t on … Continue reading
Demonstrations and Experiments
On 3/25/2012 11:03 PM, Drew Melby posted to the ChemEd-L discussion list “I’ve never felt the need to ‘entertain’ students by making things ‘memorable’. Chemistry is a serious business, not a magic show” +5-4