iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

SO grateful and privileged to be a part of the team that crafted this experience empowering teachers as leaders in their communities! #iTeachPhysics

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Reposted by Marianna Ruggerio

Dan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval of research grants These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque www.scientificamerican.com/article/whit...

scientificamerican.com

White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final say on research grants

These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque

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Reposted by Marianna Ruggerio

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 29/05/2026

It’s truly astonishing to see how comprehensively the US government is tearing down every part of the system that has made it up until now a world-leading power in science, research, and technological development. The entire world will suffer from this wanton destruction.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

This is NOT false alarmism... this is an actual 5-alarm fire on science, research and innovation in the US. (In case you didn't think it could get worse... it continues to get worse). Public comment is open NOW. We need to continue to use our voices in what's left of our very broken system.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Very often when teachers select a tool or strategy the reason they share they love it is because "it gets the kids engaged and they have so much fun". We need to recognize that in the ongoing battle for the respectability of our profession, that line of reasoning is harmful to us as professionals.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Worked examples are a powerful tool for supporting student learning early on. These strategies can look like providing examples in full, slowly removing parts of a problem and having students fill in the missing pieces using high quality textbooks (Etkina, Stewart) and even video tutorials.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Diagraming isn't something we *just happen* to do in physics. It is a critical learning tool that is backed by research and allows our students more engagement and depth thanks to cognitive offloading, emergent structure (finding patterns), and reorganization of material to get a new perspective.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

I hate when teachers get annoyed over handling student misconceptions. Misconceptions all begin with bits of truth based on experience. Therefore misconceptions are actually incomplete conceptions…with that we can craft the experiences instruct Ss to reasoning their way to the full understanding.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

There are several reasons the jigsaw method, when done appropriately, is excellent for student learning. Also, teaching is rigorous, challenging work, so let’s not assume that just because a kid “gets it” they can teach on the fly. The preparation is imperative!

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

It’s pretty cool when the teacher you frequently refer your students to for AP review is highlighting your project!

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Curiosity and the ability to act on that curiosity in the pursuit of new knowledge is at the center of our human story. A question driven classroom is a classroom where meaning and purpose are valued and identity can be formed.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

you have to DO physics to get better at DOING physics! The expert game (do it after test 1!), the ZPD, and my big question this summer: I want to know how you support building the skill of critical reflective thinking. I think its an important key!

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Social Learning theory posits that humans will model after those who are similar, high-status, knowledgeable, rewarded, or nurturing figures in our lives. What if we leveraged that idea to shape our students' STEM identities?

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

How do your classrom norms impact your classroom culture of learning?

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

"The person doing the talking is the person doing the learning" but in order to have a truly fruitful discussion, sharing *must* be paired with listening. How do we support student listening *and* sharing to enhance the experience for all?

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

What is our ultimate goal as educators? To cram as much knowledge in as possible, or to help in the growth and development of young adults who take ownership of their knowledge in order to act and create with it? The one who is willing to act on their knowledge is the one who is empowered.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

You can provide the clearest most detailed lecture, but if Ss lack something to connect the new knowledge to, results are limited. If instead, we allow Ss to engage and reason in a carefully constructed way, and *then* we tell them their comprehension and retention increase dramatically.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Interleaving is when Ss engage in practice which requires them to retrieve from different units/skills. Although this is challenging for students, it leads to better comprehension and retention. AP problems, are great examples of interleaved practice. A few years ago I turned one into a practicum

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Hands on is a no brainer in science, but “because it’s fun” isn’t the core reason. By physically engaging students in an experience we prime their brains to become *much* more receptive to direct instruction. It’s the secret sauce to constructivist learning and exceptionally powerful!

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Implementing retrieval activities in my classes was one of the easiest high-return strategies I've engaged with. Student confidence increased and testing anxiety decreased. How can we require students to pull out what they know on a test if we never ask them to flex that memory muscle in class?

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I've never been so happy that my school uses google classroom and some super archaic gradebook software as I am today 😆

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

AAPT has been a huge part of my development as an educator since I was a student teacher! So many of my best physics friends are AAPT members and I'm so grateful for this community!

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Feedback may be one of the most critical components of teaching and should *definitely not* be limited to the autopsy of the test. My latest in the ABCs of Learning series: F is for Feedback. #ITeachPhysics

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Eduinfluencer at institute day made the claim that the avereage teacher can only name and describe 3 evidence-based strategies. We use evidence-based strategies every day, and it's only to our benefit to be able to speak about them like the brilliant professionals we are!

physicsteachermomma.com

ABCs of How We Learn: E is for Elaboration

The Information Processing Model for memory is an incredibly important foundation for establishing much of the what and how around teaching strategies. We begin with the sensory input… the wo…

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

The whole #iTeachPhysics community, honestly. I got to connect with rockstars like @barnettdreyfuss.bsky.social @the-physics-well.net @cossettej.bsky.social @joemilliano.bsky.social @msaphysics.bsky.social @martastoeckel.bsky.social and so many more on Twitter and then got to connect IRL with AAPT.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Intentionally integrating deliberate practice is part of what spawned the idea for this series! Teaching with intention makes ALL the difference!

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

A new teacher got upset at the claim I heard about teachers not knowing their strategies. I firmly believe that when we can know and name it, we can practice it with TRUE intentionality. That’s why I’m on a mission to name what we do this month!

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

I recently heard that on avg most Ts can only name and describe three research-based strategies in their classroom. Challenge accepted. I'm going to write about how I used each of 26 strategies in my physics classroom. Here we go! A is for Analogy physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/02/a...

physicsteachermomma.com

ABCs of How We Learn in Physics: Analogy

Shortly after completing my MEd I was asked to teach the intro to educational psychology course at Rockford University. The course had recently been redesigned to focus on cognitive psychology and …

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

TODAY: NSF announced a Request for Information (RFI), inviting suggestions and innovations to inform a comprehensive review of its Excellence Awards in Science and Engineering (EASE). This includes PAEMST! Official Link: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

federalregister.gov

Request for Information

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) invites information, suggestions, and innovations to inform a comprehensive review of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teach...

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Reposted by Marianna Ruggerio

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 12/02/2026

You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Teaching Students How to Learn: disguised as "how to score better" I was wonderfully inspired at AAPT winter meeting! I adapted the workshop for my AP students and students were really responsive. Now to see if it sticks over the next few weeks! #ITeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/02/05/t...

physicsteachermomma.com

Teaching Students How to Score Better

At the American Association of Physics Teachers Winter Meeting I had the privilege of presenting in literally the best session of the entire conference (no bias here at all). Magically, all four of…

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

It's retraction day. Let these sit with you a minute.

Happy Retraction Day: Lancet Retracts Wakefield's paper relating the MMR vaccine to autism

"Without such a system, vaccine-safety concerns such as that reported by Wakefield and colleagues may snowball into societal tragedies when the media and the public confuse association with causality and shun immunization"

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Do you use physics classroom? I am ADAMANT about Ss writing things down. I started developing handouts to accompany some of the activities in physics classroom to get Ss thinking, and provide a way to support them with feedback. #ITeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/02/01/w...

physicsteachermomma.com

Written Companions for Physics Classroom Practice

The Physics Classroom holds a place near and dear to my heart. For years I thought it was my special secret. Long, long ago the url was something like physicsclassroom.glenbrook225.k12.il.us becaus…

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

I tried a riff on an old trick and something new to get my students really thinking about their thinking while working through AP FRQs. It involves working the FRQ in rounds and a reflection follow up physicsteachermomma.com/2026/01/31/a... #IteachPhysics

physicsteachermomma.com

AP Free-Response Practice, Skills and Metacognition

It’s been two weeks since I got back from the AAPT Winter meeting inVegas and I’ve barely had time to sit and reflect. I’ve made some big changes this school year. Exactly one yea…

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Get $$$ To come to AAPT! Applications due Fri! The Barbara Wolff-Reichert award is for a FIRST TIMER 100% funded! The LIPTON FUND has been redesigned and is now for a RETURNING member & will cover expenses for 2 meetings in 2 consecutive years. More info: www.aapt.org/Programs/gra...

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

This year a cohort of HS teachers were selected via application to attend PTRA Bootcamp. The goal of PTRA is for teachers to train other teachers to teach physics. This group was fully funded to attend the workshop and also received financial support to stay for the full AAPT meeting! #AAPTSM25

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

🚨 #PAEMST, the nation's highest honor for STEM teachers, has been DEFUNDED in the new NSF budget. This award was est by Reagan in 1983. This award fuels classroom innovation, strengthens the STEM pipeline, and uplifts excellence in every community.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Teachers, choose your one liners carefully. Students remember them forever. What does your one liner say about you? Ones I remember from my teachers: "The answer's always one, it just depends which units you use" "The college board is the richest nonprofit in the US" "The answer is always enzymes"

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

If you’re a physics educator who uses the word “intuitive” to describe physics you are part of the problem in physics culture. Because if we are honest it’s not intuitive at all.

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

NSF put our names back up on the PAEMST website, but not our bios which are now under review. I am certain that the boxed part of bio is going to be erased. The government is literally erasing our stories.

PAEMST bio page. Boxed portion reads "Within the classrom Marianna has integrated high-quality, evidence based curricula alongside an emphasis on equity and learning about and actin on underrepresentation in STEM. Her master's thesis on the Recruitment and Retention of Female Latinx Students in Physics was awarded Rockford University's Outstanding Research Award"

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Note making a la Building Thinking Classrooms + ISLE. This is the missing link that pulls together an active learning environment and collaborative white boarding with notes that actually mean something and a reason to dig into the textbook. Students receive these at the lesson’s end #iteachphysics

Note template. 2x2. Copy white board, example problem, things I need to remember, create your own

Student sample with intro to forces ISLE observational cycle

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Marianna Ruggerio @msruggerio.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Since it’s that season and schools are under attack more than ever In just gonna throw out there that taxes are just following a bunch of monotonous rules and directions. I can guarantee 16 year old you wouldn’t have paid attention if it was an option in school.

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