I have been so lucky to have gotten so involved in so many different conversations about women in the STEM fields. I was recently found via twitter thanks to the “rocket scientist” description of myself. The Teach for America Podscast @BlankShowRadio on twitter reached out to me not too long ago to ask me the same question everyone is always interested in….why did I leave my awesome engineering job in the space systems industry to become an under paid and under appreciated teacher?!?!?!
Hear my response to this question and a few more by pressing play on the player below. Since it is a podcast interview there is only sound and no visual. You can also listen by clicking the link directly below.
On a completely different note, I have been listening to the following song non-stop. It’s just so catchy and I am killing it with the dance moves. I have a burning desire to do this same dance in a grocery store just like her.
It’s been quite a while since my last post – being a teacher has consumed every free moment I might have. But I can’t complain, I am really loving it.
Spring break was a few weeks ago and before leaving for spring break I assigned a hefty amount of HW to my students. I told them the reason I give them so much work is because I want them truly practice and understand physics. I finished the argument by telling them that the amount of HW I assigned to them was directly proportional to how much I loved them! After class, I notice the following on my white board:
I guess my students disagree with my HW vs. logic, but I was ecstatic to see that they used correct mathematical language to express themselves! Teacher win!!!
This past week I started teaching the Unit on Waves in my physics class. We started with the basics of wave characteristics talking about thunder and lightning and explaining why even though its the same event, we hear and see these at different times (speed of light wave > speed of sound wave). Then we talked about the different types and parts of wave. Finally at the end of the week we derived the wave speed equation from the original equation of speed we had learned in the mechanics unit, v= d/t.
This week I am starting off with one of my favorite demonstrations, the Ruben’s Tube. Unfortunately I did not have time to build my own Ruben’s Tube but there are a bunch of cool videos all over the internet which show was this device does. I will definitely spend time this summer building my own Ruben’s Tube for next year.
The most basic description of what a Ruben’s Tube does is that it allows you to visualize sound. Sound travels in waves, compression waves specifically so this is a perfect demonstration for the waves unit.
Here is a very basic video of a functioning Ruben’s Tube with a wonderful explanation:
And here is a video combining two things I love – physics and dubstep
I have been listening to strictly 60’s oldies lately. I can’t seem to get over the song The Wanderer by Dion. I just love the lyrics because I’ve often felt like a wanderer not having lived in any single place for more than 5 years. I think I love this part of the song the most which I have modified to fit me signing it 🙂
I’m the type of gal that likes to roam around
I’m never in one place, I roam from town to town
And when I find myself fallin’ for some guy
I hop right into that car of mine and ride around the world
Cause I’m the wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam around, around, around
http://youtu.be/hVzU–Qp5fE
[audio:http://sixties60s.com/1962/radio/The%20Wanderer.mp3|titles= The Wanderer|artists= Dion]
I need a serious dose of motivation to get through this week after working almost all weekend. Prepping for 3 different classes and taking two grad classes is no joke. I’m not sure how long I can keep this up but we’ll see.
I don’t think I could have gotten through the weekend of planning without this dirty mix playing in the background while I graded papers and planned like crazy! Skip over the first 45 seconds of talking and enjoy the ridiculous ripping beats and bass dropsss. Womp woommppp wommppp woooommmpppp!!
Speaking of grading and blizzards, here are two pictures. The first one is of the so called blizzard Nemo. Which seemed more like a dusting than a blizzard here in NYC.
And as usual, my cats were helping me do some work this weekend. Though I am not sure how much of a help Boosie was. Take a look for yourself….
As a first year teacher I often find myself spending 10 hours a day at my school only to come home and spend the rest of the evening planning. I filled out a survey from my school recently asking me how many hours a week I spend on school tasks between teaching and planning and I was shocked to answer 80+ hours a week. I never understood how someone could work more than their usual 40 hours at a job. Now I get it. The more time I spend perfecting my lessons, the more my students benefit and the more I spread the knowledge of physics around the world.
Let me tell you, there is no feeling similar to having a student come after school for help and seeing them leave having learned and accomplished so much. Most importantly though is seeing them leave with a huge smile on their face because they overcame a huge obstacle. It truly warms my heart and allows me to continue these crazy hours.
I have managed to work on a pretty good stress relieving system. I find myself every night spending time dancing alone in my room. I find pure joy and happiness as I just let my hair down while singing and dancing to some very rhythmic songs. Here is my top 4 list of songs I jam to post a night of heavy planning – in no particular order.
Ms. Chabebe’s Post-Planning Dance Mix
(if only my students knew, muahahaha!!)
1.) Shania Twain – Feel like a Woman
[audio:http://rocky-52.net/son/son_t/twain_shania/twain_shania_manifeellikeawoman.mp3|titles= Man! I feel like a Woman|artists= Shania Twain]
2.) Robyn – Dancing on my Own
[audio:http://a.tumblr.com/tumblr_lax0qa2W8q1qz6aawo1.mp3|titles= Dancing on my Own|artists= Robyn]
3.) Kumbia Queers – El Veraneao
[bandcamp album=3174756114 Â bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
4.) Danza Kuduro by Don Omar Ft. Lucenzo – Danza Kuduro
[audio:http://a.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm0ei6t1g71qbqcrso1.mp3|titles= Danza Kuduro|artists= Don Omar ft. Lucenzo]
These lyrics from the previous song just summarize so well my need to dance. Sorry to those non Spanish speakers
Quien puede domar la fuerza del mar que se mete por tus venas.
Lo caliente del sol que se te metió y no te deja quieta nena.
Quien puede parar eso que al bailar descontrola tus caderas,
Y ese fuego que quema por dentro
Y lento te convierte en fiera.
Con las manos arriba, cintura sola, da media vuelta
Y SACUDE DURO!
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital awareness and funds for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.
Because I am not a man and cannot grow a moustache, I have decided to show my support a little differently.
[audio:http://a.tumblr.com/tumblr_lituj1edjP1qgnxyoo1.mp3|titles=The Living Years|artists=Mike & The Mechanics]
Crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got
Spent the long daylight savings night having a blast
Me and Kristen!
My friend Kristen just moved up the block from me which is pretty awesome! It’s crazy how people you meet through the most distant of friends end up being more a part of your life than you ever would have thought. So we started my birthday celebrations last night before daylight savings!
After a full day of miscellaneous celebrations, I decided to make a cake based on the supplies available in my place. It actually turned out delicious.
Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it before I devoured half of it =P Oh and that tray behind the mostly eaten banana bread is a tray of brownies I made earlier this week we also recently devoured!
Oh, and lets not forget that my favorite band, Green Day, recently released their newest single. Unfortunately they have decided to add it as a part of the twilight saga soundtrack. But I forgive them. Green Day has been my favorite band since age 9.
Turns out, the area of Queens where I live was hardly affected by Hurricane Sandy. Thanks to everyone who sent me emails and called making sure I was ok! I have been lucky to have power and no issues and a 5 day weekend. I have not relaxed this hard in quite a long time.
I did go outside during the hurricane. Probably not the smartest thing to do but we were careful. We walked to the train station a block away where the platform is above ground. We wanted to check out what the city skyline looked like after most of the lights had gone out. This is a picture taken after we jumped the turnstiles and got onto the train platform.
The tiny faint light in the middle of the picture is the top of the empire state building
Walking the streets during Sandy
Unfortunately, the NYC halloween parade was cancelled which is probably one of my favorite yearly events in the city. I did manage to have some halloween fun before the storm hit though.
After some debate with costume ideas I decided to go for something simple yet fun and part of current pop culture. I decided to dress up as the guy from PSY who sings Gangname Syle
Holy moly I stumbled upon a song that I just loved from the second I heard it. I am a complete sucker for incredibly sad songs that I somehow feel I can relate to (or could have related to at some point in my life). Not so hard to do =P
From the outside, from the outside…everyone must be wondering why we try…why do we try?
