Upper St. Clair High School

 

Teaching physics is very rewarding at Upper St. Clair High School, and I have been teaching at Upper St. Clair High School since Fall of 2002. Currently I teach one course- AP Physics 1.

 

 

AP Physics 1 is a course that includes topics both in classical and modern physics. It is equivalent to a first semester college course in algebra-based physics. The content covered in this course will be Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and an introduction to electric circuits. Knowledge of algebra and basic trigonometry is required for the course.

 

Performing inquiry-based investigations and understanding of the basic principles involved and the ability to apply these principles in the solution of problems is a major goal of the course. Consequently, the course will utilize guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development of critical thinking skills. This course is focused on a series of learning objectives that clarify the knowledge and the skills students should demonstrate to promote a more engaging and rigorous experience for AP students. Each learning objective combines the physics content with one or more of seven foundational big ideas in physics. Inquiry-based investigations will be emphasized for this course.

 

Students will develop and use physics knowledge by applying it to the practice of science inquiry. These investigations will foster student engagement in the practice of science through experimenting, analyzing, making conjectures and arguments, and solving problems in a collaborative setting, where they direct and monitor their progress toward an academic goal. This is a rigorous course with selected lecture times. Benchmark assessments, variable lab times, and mastery model assessment will be used. Inquiry-based investigations and appropriate scientific reasoning will be used as a guide in learning the concepts.

 

Students enrolled in the course will be prepared to take the AP Physics 1 Test in the spring.  Throughout the year in AP Physics 1, students will work on skills that are needed to perform on the AP Physics 1 Exam.

 

All my sections of AP Physics 1 are taught in room 226.   As a science teacher, my desk resides in room 131 (Science Planning), but my homebase is room 226.  I can be found teaching blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

 

 

 

  

Always interested in education, I decided to pursue a career change by enrolling at California University of Pennsylvania.  In the Spring of 2002, I earned my Master of Arts Teaching degree with certifications to teach Physics and Mathematics at the secondary level from Cal U.  I began my teaching career promptly in the Fall of 2002 at Upper St. Clair High School as a Physics and Mathematics Instructor.