Author Archives: Mr. Bigler

About Mr. Bigler

Physics teacher at Lynn English High School in Lynn, MA. Proud father of two daughters. Violist & morris dancer.

Some Thoughts About Classroom Management

I was talking with some of my colleagues yesterday about classroom management, and about a colleague of ours, a second-year teacher who is struggling a little with finding that magic balance. +6-2

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Vacuum Cleaner Hovercraft

To demonstrate the power of hydraulics, some of my students and I built a hovercraft out of plywood and a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. +8-6

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Seizing the Moment

When I’m teaching, I live for teachable moments.  Right now, I’m teaching my physics students about fluids—pressure and hydraulics, to be followed by buoyancy, gas laws, and Bernoulli’s Principle.  However, today one of my students innocently asked, “Maybe you can … Continue reading

Posted in Challenges & Frustrations, Philosophy | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Keeping a Lab Notebook for Inquiry Labs

Isaac Asimov once quipped, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ (I found it), but ‘gee, that’s funny …’ ”  The phrase is exciting because it means the scientist … Continue reading

Posted in Challenges & Frustrations, Science | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Pressure-Perfect Sleeper; Extra Firm

I’ve always wanted to build a bed of nails, especially since I started teaching physics.  Now I’ve done it. +6-3

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Open Friend Quiz

An “open book test” means students are allowed to use their books, and an “open notes” test means they’re allowed to use their notes.  I’ve become fond of “open friend” quizzes.  My students took one today. +3-3

Posted in Philosophy, Science | 2 Comments

Fire and Ice

Today I did one of my favorite demos for my classes.  The demo is convincing visual evidence that forming intermolecular bonds releases energy. +11-6

Posted in Science | Tagged | 17 Comments

The Ghost of Homework Assignments Past

One of the reasons that the first few years of teaching are much harder than later years is because teachers basically start out with nothing.  Ideas and lessons come from other experienced teachers, but teachers have to try the lessons … Continue reading

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Creating Problems For Themselves

During Christmas vacation, I was talking with my eleven-year-old daughter about school.  She loves math (as do I).  I asked her about her experience with word problems, knowing that most of my students struggle with them.  She said that they … Continue reading

Posted in Challenges & Frustrations, Science | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Anonymous Hair Day

Last Friday, a colleague asked me to watch her homeroom for a few minutes. One of the girls in the homeroom was fixing her hair and fretting about a couple of hairs that didn’t want to behave. I commented that … Continue reading

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