Author Archives: marcreif

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About marcreif

I live and teach high school physics in the town I was born in, Fayetteville, Arkansas. My professional interests include modeling instruction and Advanced Placement courses. I also work as a College Board Workshop Consultant, which means I lead Pre-AP and AP Science Teacher workshops. Lately I've also been leading a fair amount of student review sessions for the National Math and Science Initiative. I have a website for students (fysicsfool.info) and another for AP Summer Institute participants (apsifool.info). I tweet infrequently (@marcreif).

Modeling in AP Physics 1: Pacing Guide

A/B/C Block Marc Reif The AP1 Exam is Wednesday, May 5, 2021. For 2020-2021 The students in AP Physics 1 will have had no previous physics course. Most had Pre-AP Biology or Pre-AP Chemistry in the previous your. Many are … Continue reading

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Modeling in AP Physics C Mechanics – Pacing Guide

A/B/C Block Schedule Marc Reif The APC Exams are Monday, May 3, 2021. For 2020-2021 The students in AP Physics C have about half had AP Physics 1, about half have not. Most (I think) are enrolled in AP Calculus … Continue reading

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Modeling in AP Physics C Mechanics – Paradigms

A paradigm is a “model, pattern, example, exemplar, template, standard, prototype, archetype.” In modeling instruction, they are typically a demonstration or lab setup that serves to focus student attention on what is important in the unit. Paradigms are presented as … Continue reading

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Teaching with Modeling in AP Physics

Modeling is a student-centered, inquiry-based, very successful teaching method originally developed at Arizona State University and now maintained by the American Modeling Teachers Association. The clearest evidence that AP Physics and Modeling are a great fit is seen in the … Continue reading

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Marc Reif’s 2020 AP Physics Summer Institute Presenting Schedule

~hover over the text to find links to course, site, and geographic location~ Online! AP Physics  1 and 2 combined Registration Link on this page Pamphlet here 15 June to 19 June  University of Texas–El Paso ##### Online! AP Physics … Continue reading

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Electricity Visualized! Teaching Circuits in AP1 with ideas from the CASTLE Curriculum.

CASTLE stands for Capacitor-Aided System for Teaching and Learning Electricity. It is a conceptual curriculum available for download from Pasco Scientific (go to https://www.pasco.com/prodCompare/castle-kit/index.cfm and scroll down to find the downloads). The curriculum is a basically complete set of activities, … Continue reading

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PEER INSTRUCTION

I learned a very simple, powerful technique for engaging students’ interest, sparking intense classroom discussions, and guiding students how to think like a physicist from the book Peer Instruction  by Eric Mazur. What’s more, if you use this technique in … Continue reading

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“Nothing is too wonderful to be true” – Michael Faraday’s Law

Science is moved forward by observations and experiments, yet some observations are too subtle and some experiments too complicated to reproduce in the classroom.Michael Faraday’s discovery of electromagnetic induction combines observation and experimentation yet requires nothing expensive or complicated. It … Continue reading

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A Physics Teacher’s Strongman Trick

Strongman tricks often involve seemingly impossible tasks like bending iron bars, lifting gigantic weights, or pulling trains with your teeth. This “teacher trick” doesn’t take great strength to impress. Using a clever arrangement of a mirror and a laser, students … Continue reading

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WHITEBOARDING TECHNIQUES (To promote a good classroom environment and possibly, inquiry)

A brief description of the ways I have used whiteboards to promote discussions in the modeling physics classroom. Continue reading

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