Marianna Ruggerio
@msruggerio.bsky.social
2023 PAEMST Awardee | Physics Educator | Teacher Educator | APS STEPUP Advocate | UIUC Physics IPaSS Fellow | IL Physics Teacher of the Year | physicsteachermomma.com
SO grateful and privileged to be a part of the team that crafted this experience empowering teachers as leaders in their communities! #iTeachPhysics
AAPTHQ@aapthq.bsky.social · 2mo agoAAPT is more than a professional home—it’s a national platform where physics educators shape programs, influence policy, and guide the future of physics education. 🚀 When physics educators step up to lead, the entire STEM community thrives. #WeArePhysicsEducation #ITeachPhysics
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...
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
scientificamerican.com
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.
Dan Vergano@danvergano.bsky.social · 5mo agoWhite 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...
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.
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌@chanda.blacksky.app · 5mo agoNEW: A lot of bad has happened to American science over the last year but nothing comes even close to what’s about to happen if we don’t speak out in opposition to the OMB rule changes and I hope @aaas-socsci.bsky.social @apsphysics.bsky.social and others will launch public campaigns about this. 🧪🔭⚛️
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.
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoX is for eXcitement physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/27/a...
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.
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoW is for Worked Examples: physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/26/a...
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.
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoV is for Visualization physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/25/a...
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.
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoU is for Undoing: physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/24/a...
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!
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoT is for Teaching physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/23/a...
It’s pretty cool when the teacher you frequently refer your students to for AP review is highlighting your project!
Jacobs Physics@jacobsphysics.bsky.social · 5mo agoHere's a detailed discussion of why you should read @msruggerio.bsky.social and her "ABCs of how we learn physics" series. Even in your 30th year of teaching (though I wish this had been published in my 5th year!) Thanks, Marianna! #iTeachPhysics jacobsphysics.org/2026/05/22/m...
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.
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoQ is for Question Driven physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/20/a...
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!
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoP is for Participation physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/19/a...
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?
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoO is for Observation physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/16/a...
"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?
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoL is for Listening and Sharing. physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/13/t...
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.
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoK is for Knowledge physicsteachermomma.com?p=5620
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.
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoJ is for just in time telling. physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/11/a...
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
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoI is for Interleaving: physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/10/a...
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!
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoH is for Hands on physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/09/t...
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?
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoG is for Generation physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/08/a...
I've never been so happy that my school uses google classroom and some super archaic gradebook software as I am today 😆
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!
AAPTHQ@aapthq.bsky.social · 5mo ago"Students are thinking, testing, & revising. That takes intentional design, research & willingness to rethink what’s “worked.” After 17 yrs, I know this approach leads to real outcomes—even when it’s questioned." M. Ruggerio, Hononegah Community High School. #WeArePhysicsEducation #ITeachPhysics
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
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoF is for Feedback: physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/07/a...
I just finished post 8 for the ABCs of How We Learn Physics series! That's 30% completion! E is for Elaboration went live today, look out for F is for Feedback tomorrow! #iTeachPhysics physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/06/a...
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…
physicsteachermomma.com
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!
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…
physicsteachermomma.com
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoToday is E is for Elaboration! physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/06/a...
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.
AAPTHQ@aapthq.bsky.social · 5mo ago🍎✨ Happy Teacher Appreciation Week 2026! ✨🍎 Tag a teacher or educator who has made a difference in your life and show them some love today! 💕 #TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankATeacher #Gratitude #EducatorsMatter #PhysicsEducation #PhysicsTeachers
Intentionally integrating deliberate practice is part of what spawned the idea for this series! Teaching with intention makes ALL the difference!
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoDay 4 of 26! D is for Deliberate Practice physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/05/a...
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!
Marianna Ruggerio@msruggerio.bsky.social · 5mo agoDay 3 of 26! C is for Contrasting Cases physicsteachermomma.com/2026/05/04/a...
