Imagine the Magic That a Physics Classroom Could Be
I need to experience the phenomenal training that occurs at RCA. Since hearing Mr. Clark speak, I have read everything he and his colleagues have written. I want to witness the inspiration first hand.
I am so lucky to teach at a 7-12 urban school that truly focuses on academics and arts where students work very hard to learn difficult concepts in AP physics. I want to make that learning as much fun as possible in a subject that most people think of as intimidating. This past spring, I created a review for the AP exam where students competed to solve problems and break into a prize box. When, the competition was over, the winners didn't want me to spend any more money on them. They just wanted me to have them out to my house for lunch. They were so appreciative of the work I did to make the review exciting and engaging.
I want my classroom to always be a place of wonder.
I want students to learn why the sky is blue, why enormous aircraft carriers float, and how electric guitars create sound. I want them to think of physics wherever they go whether they are flying in a plane, resting on a beach, or playing their favorite sport.
My Project
Picture fourth quarter seniors walking in every day to review for their dreaded AP exams. Imagine these same students working to complete worksheets to review for those same exams.
Then, imagine instead these same students walking into a room where the message Finish Strong is projected in 2 foot high letters as the Rocky theme plays.
Imagine them working to solve problems that allow them to determine lock codes so they can unlock prize boxes. Imagine them participating in a month long competition that included those lock boxes, jeopardy, a quiz game called kahoot, a bowling alley lab, and an ultimate frisbee lab. Hearing Ron Clark speak inspired me to make those changes this past spring.
Reading his books and those of his colleagues have already inspired fresh ideas for next year including turning my classroom into a beach to study mechanical waves, creating a thunderstorm in my classroom to inspire study of electric potential, and conducting a mock trial to determine if light is a particle or a wave.
Imagine what other learning experiences I could create for my students, if I had the opportunity to witness the magic of the Ron Clark Academy first hand. I am willing to pay my transportation and my brother is willing to host me in his Atlanta home. I just need help with the tuition cost. Any donation would be appreciated.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Coats-Haan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
