<p>I just wanted to know if any high schoolers on CC have had amazing physics teachers who have encouraged them to major in physics. </p>
<p>I supposedly go to one of the most competitive high schools in my state, and am in the most rigorous program being offered. However, the physics teachers suck. There is no other way to say it. It's so horrible that everybody hates physics because the testing is horrible and the teachers are just plain uneducated in physics. </p>
<p>I do science research at well known universities, and I'm considering a physics major because my mentors have majored in it and had successful careers. I wanted to give myself another chance to see if I really suck at physics, or if I'm actually okay at it.</p>
<p>Problem is, I checked out Stanford epgy, and the education sounded promising until I looked at the tuition. I decided that I'm self studying physics over the summer before I take the physics hl / c exams and classes next year. Are there any alternatives i'm missing if i'm looking for a good intro to physics?</p>
<p>Physics is the hardest course to teach because you have to establish a clear picture (concept) in your head. Most teachers focus on the formula too much like mathematics.</p>
<p>The Honors Physics teacher and AP Physics teacher (we only have B) are both really bad at my school. The 2 other teachers who teach regular physics, i hear, arent really good either.</p>
<p>I’ve known that I want to be a special ed teacher for my entire life, so no matter how amazing a teacher is, nothing will change that. </p>
<p>All of the physics teachers at my school are terrible to the point where getting a C on a test is applauded. I had to transfer to schooling over the phone due to health issues that caused extensive absenses (long story), and my second physics teacher is probably one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. I went from struggling to barely earn a B to earning 100% on every test and an a 99% in the class. It’s rare, but there are good physics teachers out there.</p>
<p>My ninth grade physics teacher was absolutely terrible, and most people hated him.</p>
<p>But I still decided from that class that I wanted to major in physics anyway. And now my physics teacher is okay/pretty good, but the class isn’t as exciting to me as the freshman year one was, which is kind of strange.</p>
<p>I’ve had a pretty good physics teacher. The trick to winning at physics is to look over the material thoroughly before the class that the topic is introduced. Then you can get whatever questions you have cleared up when the teacher is lecturing/providing examples, and when they go really fast in a certain area you can keep up with notes.</p>
<p>Everyone loved my physics teacher, even though they all failed the class miserably lol. Didnt convince my to major in physics, but she got me to take AP Physics C next year</p>
<p>The physics teacher at my school is one of those teachers that no one hates. He’s pretty understanding, entertaining, and helpful. He’s gotten a whole bunch of awards for all the things he does on the side (Physics Club, Robotics, etc.). Our pass rate is around 80%, I think, for Physics C.</p>
<p>My son’s honors physics teacher is apparently quite good. My son does not praise highly and he says great things about this man. He wrote on son’s report card that he is one of the best students in the class and should consider majoring in it, but although my son really enjoys it and will take AP Physics C next year, he has no interest in majoring in it. His real love is history.</p>
<p>On another note, my friend’s son just graduated from an excellent second tier private U with a physics major. My friend did not even allow him to take honors physics in HS because she thought it was too hard for him!</p>
<p>I suppose that is encouraging. And if I really think about it, i’m better than most of the people in my class at physics…my grade standards and stringent grading just don’t work well together. Seems like good physics teachers are rare. Thanks for posting, CCers.</p>
<p>My physics teacher is awesome! He’s the best teacher I have ever had! I’m taking AP Physics next year so I can get him again. Although I’m set on majoring in biology, I am now seriously considering either double majoring in bio and physics or possibly biophysics!</p>
I am a student interested in pursuing science as a career. In high school, I have taken biology and chemistry on both the honors and AP level. My junior year, I took the standard class expected for a third year high school student in my district, honors physics. There are three classes, all taught by the same teacher, and it is safe to say we all share the same experiences as physics students. The first semester of the course was simple to most, with a focus on equations and kinematics. The teacher, a recent college graduate, seemed to have a grasp on the concepts of basic physics, but it was clear that they were not comfortable teaching a class. Classwork and homework consisted of worksheets and packets, that were not checked or gone over in class. Tests, during the first semester, although they were more challenging than classwork, seemed fair. The distribution of grades fell in line with my other honors or AP level classes. However, the class changed when more focus was put on conceptual physics before the midterm. Topics such as force, work, and energy were scarcely reviewed in class, despite the fact that they made up a majority of the midterm. In discussion with other students taking the same course, I found that most had left a majority of the open ended section of the midterm blank, simply because it was a topic not covered thoroughly in class. The basics had been covered, but the level of reasoning and analysis that had to be used on the midterm was that of an AP level, despite the fact that our knowledge of these topics was minimal. Immediately after the midterm, a test was given on work and energy. This topic had now been tested twice, but not gone over in class. This test began the cycle of poor grades and frustration with the physics teacher. A majority of the class failed (less than 60%) the test. Many were shocked when my teacher did not go over the test with the class, but handed it back and began the next topic of study with more worksheets and packets. Currently, my class “is learning” momentum, but our only knowledge of the topic is an “inquiry based” lab we have been doing for the past week or so. A test has been scheduled for next week, and many are afraid that no actual instruction will take place before this test. There has been two recent assessments or so where a majority of the class has done poorly, but nothing has been done to help us. Although we understand that it is an honors level class, and a certain amount of learning is based on homework and self-teaching, this level of neglect in a classroom has never been experienced by any of my peers. We feel helpless.
Long story short, my physics teacher is not excellent. We feel as though the teacher is knowledgeable in the subject, but not capable of teaching it because our curriculum is much to simple for the teacher to convey to students.
My D2 thought her HS physics teacher was very good. She is now a physics major, and went back to tell him recently. He didn’t know what to say – D thought maybe no one had ever told him this before.
My potential Physics teacher told me that I major in Engineering because I told her that I made a few 100s in Algebra II… My other potential Physics teacher who is actually my Algebra II teacher right now thinks I’m a dummy. A lot of people think they’re both really bad teachers who can’t handle the material well.
