Physics & Physical Science Demos, Labs, & Projects for High School Teachers

I don’t know about you, but I want the grades in my class to mean something.  I’ve seen so much grade inflation in schools.  It used to be school policy that we weren’t allowed to fail anyone.  Thankfully our new administration is so much smarter than the old one.  I certainly don’t want to fail any students, but if they don’t do the work and don’t try, I don’t have a problem giving them the grade they’ve earned.  Two students didn’t graduate because they failed physics last year.  I think that is a powerful motivator for this year’s students.  I will show them my grades distribution the first day of class.  They can decide how hard they are willing to work.

Here is the spread of my grades from 2008/2009:

• 7 – A’s
• 38 – B’s
• 35 – C’s
• 8 – D’s
• 2 – F’s

At some point I will put up a post about grades and how I curve.  I even have a spread sheet program that helps me.