Ms. O

Genius Hour and the High School Mind

I have implemented Genius Hour with my class. I had done it with my 6th graders to great result. I thought it would be a way to engage my students and help them see physics in all the things they love. When I started thinking about it, I decided I wasn’t going to go itContinue reading “Genius Hour and the High School Mind”

Almost half way through…

This is it, we are the home stretch to the Christmas break and wow so much has happened. I presented at CAST in Dallas to a packed room (who knew gamification would be so popular!). I have been modifying and changing the game model I am using. We have done a project that I hopeContinue reading “Almost half way through…”

This year is gonna be BIG!

Our theme at my district this year is BIG. B is Believe in Our Vision, I is Infuse Rigor and Excellence, and G is Give Your Best. I am excited for this year. I am full of ideas to share with my students. My room is ready. My teaching partner is amazing and willing toContinue reading “This year is gonna be BIG!”

SET Sail at US Naval Academy

I spent the last three days this summer at the US Naval Academy for STEM Educator Training (SET) and wow…where do I start? So much learning was packed into those three days that I really have had to unpack what I learned. It got me interested in engineering (the part I was missing in myContinue reading “SET Sail at US Naval Academy”

ISTE 2014- My First ISTE

Wow…wow, wow, wow. It’s the first day of my first ISTE conference and I am overwhelmed, and overjoyed to be here. I scope out the schedule, find way too many things that I want to go to, and try to remember the helpful hints for a great conference that ISTE was kind enough to sendContinue reading “ISTE 2014- My First ISTE”

How Teaching English and Being a Student Again Will Make Me a Better Science Teacher

This summer I was asked to help out in our summer acceleration program…I assumed I would be doing science or technology. Wrong! I was paired with a wonderful English teacher to co-teach English 2. What I was skeptical about in the start turned out to be a wonderful experience. It not only taught me howContinue reading “How Teaching English and Being a Student Again Will Make Me a Better Science Teacher”

The End…of 2013-2014 School Year

We have made it…well almost. The seniors are done, graduating on Saturday. I am so proud of them; how far they have come, what they have accomplished, what they are off to. But my juniors and I still have two more weeks. But that’s okay, it gives me a chance to encourage them to startContinue reading “The End…of 2013-2014 School Year”

Motivation

How do you motivate your students? I am finding that most of my students are motivated by The Game, but a couple of my classes don’t seem to be motivated by it. And I am struggling on what to do about it. I am hoping that a solution will show itself as I write. IContinue reading “Motivation”

Gamification and the Great XP Race

Well, I did it. I jumped in and made my class a game. I wrote the game to my theme of an FBI type agency that is over scientific investigations. It is called the OBSI, Oramous’ Bureau of Scientific Investigations. The game levels are based on the leveling system of moving through the ranks fromContinue reading “Gamification and the Great XP Race”

Late Work and Grading

After my webinar last night (on Sophia.org, awesome resource by the way), I have decided to change my late work policy. I am going to accept work up until the end of the six weeks…no matter how late and in any form. I have to have some kind of deadline, because I have to putContinue reading “Late Work and Grading”