AT Cycle 1

The first two cycles are a little messy in terms of scheduling because of class meetings and trying to get on a schedule that works with my teaching rotation.  For the first two cycles, please look at the dates on this website carefully, don't pay attention to the shapes.  Eventually by Cycle 3, we'll be starting our cycles on a B day.  Most assessments will take place on C-days.  Red for period 2 (first hour on C day).  Yellow for period 4 (first hour on A day).  Blue for period 7.    

🔴 2: Th 9/7, 🟡 4: Th 9/7a, 🔵7: F 9/8 - welcome!

Welcome to AT Physics!  Today, we'll spend time getting to know each other and answering questions about the course.  We will briefly go over what is available on my website, and will start introducing ourselves.  You'll get a textbook today.

Homework:  Accept the invitation to Google Classroom if you have not already.  I expect that you will check your school Gmail often; I will use it touch base with you.  If you do not check this email often, then set up forwarding by following these instructions.  Also, make sure you have reviewed the summer assignment.  Assessment on what you should know going into this class is on Thursday, September 21st.  

Topics for Summer Assignment ASSESSMENT on 9/21

 Formula Sheet for Assessment
(you will not need all of these formulas)

🟥 2: M 9/11a, 🟨 4: Th 9/7b, 🟦 7: M 9/11a - what is learning?

Juniors will be in an assembly Monday, September 11th 2nd hour.  During this time, seniors will have time to study for the upcoming review test.  Use the summer assignment as a guide as to what you should know.    

Today, we'll tackle two very difficult questions:  

• What is learning?  

• How do you learn?

We'll talk about learning in general and in this course.  We'll look at some research that will help us to understand learning:

1. Students Think Lectures Are Best, But Research Suggests They’re Wrong

2. Harnessing the Power of Productive Struggle

3. Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

4. What if the Secret to Success is Failure?

Homework:  Accept the invitation to Google Classroom if you have not already.  I expect that you will check your school Gmail often; I will use it touch base with you.  If you do not check this email often, then set up forwarding by following these instructions.  Also, make sure you have reviewed the summer assignment.  ❗Assessment on Thursday, September 21st.  

❤️ 2: T 9/12, 💛 4: F 9/8, 💙7: M 9/11b - how do we learn?

Seniors will be in an assembly Monday, September 11th 3rd hour.  During this time, juniors will have time to study for the review test.  Use the summer assignment as a guide as to what you should know.  

We'll finish whatever we did not finish of yesterday's lesson.  We'll tackle these questions:

• What does it take to learn something?

• What's the difference between learning and practice?

• How can you become a better learner?

• What are the habits and attitudes of good learners?  

We'll take a look at a couple of articles:

1. The Art of Changing the Brain

2. Why I No Longer Use Groups in the Classroom

3. Don't Blink! The Hazards of Confidence

4. Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away

5. Why Students Forget—and What You Can Do About It (drill down)

If there's time, we'll also talk about collaboration:

• How does collaboration fit in with learning?

• What are some ways we can collaborate and form a community outside of class time? 

• What will we see when we work together? 

• What will we hear when we work together? 

• How can we help each other? 

📕 2: W 9/13, 📒 4: W 9/13a, 📘7: T 9/12 - what happens when we struggle?  is struggle bad?

Today, we'll discuss specific strategies to help us when we struggle.  Then, we'll try to make our discussion more relevant to you:  

• What’s something you want to achieve in this class? 

• What is one new concrete thing you’ll do to work towards your learning goals based on this discussion? 

• What do you need to be willing to do to embrace this new tactic/struggle/attitude?  

• What are some things you can tell yourself along the learning process? 

• What can we (teacher and other students) do to encourage you?  

You'll make your own learning pit poster with self-talk ideas.  We will make a reminder poster for the room to help you.  

Homework:  Fill out the Personal Learning Habits questionnaire in ✏️ Google Classroom by Thursday at 10pm.