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| Max and Frederique (in the middle) on their wedding day with friends |
These appear to be adults, right?
But that's not possible - almost all of these guys were students of mine. Sixteen year-olds taking honors physics their junior year. Of course, that was back in 2007 when I first started in Wayland (my 6th year as a teacher but the first year in a new district is like starting all over again). Apparently life goes on even after they leave me! Somehow I imagined they stay sixteen forever.
Surreal! So happy that F & M reached out for tips on their upcoming trip to Corsica which enabled me to see this picture. One never knows the seeds that get planted - students may not remember all the physics that gets taught (or is attempted to be taught), but they do apparently remember some stories about working in a winery in Corsica.
Happy memories for me as this is one of the classes that confirmed I had made the right choice in leaving my previous school to teach in Wayland!
BTW, I'm taking full credit for this wedding despite the fact that I'm pretty sure they did not meet in my class - I just prefer to imagine it that way - please do not disabuse me of this notion if you know better!
I recall lots of flailing around at the blackboard in front of these patient guys. Funny to remember just how different a teacher I was back then. (Now I flail around at a whiteboard with more technology). This was pre-blog, pre-laptops, pre-AP Physics 1 curriculum, pre-Energizing physics, pre-peer instruction, pre-new building, pre-astronomy, pre-formatives - I wonder what I even inflicted these kids with!?
Happy Adulting!
Just heard from one of my inside sources that the following was said during the ceremony (vindication!):
ReplyDelete“Their story started in our physics class with Mr. Rideout in our junior year of high school, a little over ten years ago. Several of today’s guests were in that class with Fred and Max, and I think all of us can speak to the fun, at times goofy, atmosphere that Mr. Rideout created in his classroom. Looking back now, maybe this freer class structure created a space for Max and Fred to connect over Newton’s Laws, kinetic and potential energy, and yes, Einstein’s theory of general relativity. A shared free block in their schedules allowed for time together in the media center of our high school library, discussing their classes and problem-solving together.”