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Less Physics Mo Problems

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Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs.  In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year.  Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home.  I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms...
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Cooking my Content

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I was lucky enough to see Dave Burgess speak today.  It was amazing. I’ve read Teach Like a Pirate but the presentation I was able to be a part of what speaks to one of his many messages. It's not just what's on the page. It's how we bring it to life! This is just a quick reflection.

Content and standards are raw. They can be presented to learners, but that doesn’t mean they will be edible or nourishing.

They won’t be coming back for more.

In fact, they may take a bite and spit it out.

They may even have a violent reaction to it.

This summer, I’ve been working to design curricular units aligned to Next Generation
Science Standards. I’ve been feeling great about my work. Until I started to hear Dave
speak and realize how much I hadn’t thought about before I think about moving forward.

Have I preheated? I can’t just put the lesson out there unless the stage is set.
Have the students been primed to learn? Are they curios about what we are going to be doing?
Do the want to know?

Have I taken the students’ orders? Student voice is key.
Have I listened to learners ideas and interests in order to make that connection to their lives?

Have I considered the presentation elements?
Am I showing passion for what I am presenting?
Am I using powerful visuals experiences to present or just a series of words on a projected slide?

What will I do with content I am not passionate about?
Will I simply try to power through it or will I infuse it with the other elements that will
matter in life like Habits of Mind and Digital Literacy. When the content isn’t exciting, that
doesn’t mean the learning experience can’t be.

How will I know when it's done? Take the temperature.
Just because it looks done, doesn't mean it is.  You've got to taste it. That means getting feedback from learners.

As I look back at the curriculum I am building, I need to consider these questions and more. I could be preparing the best piece of content ever. But, I still have to add some heat and seasoning if it's going to create that memorable experience.

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