I am a middle school science teacher.  On any normal day, I am Ms. Nguyen, on of three loud and crazy science teachers.  But on Halloween, I transform into Professor Nguyen — a wizard who is part of a group of wizards called the Extremophiles. My students all stare at me and think, “Oh, man, [...]

I found this attached to my lab sink when I returned from lunch on Friday. Cute?  Definitely. But can the kids spell?  Uh, no.

27 weeks, 5 days preggo.  I’m suited up in my running gear (and lab coat) to run the 2nd Annual Turkey Trot at our school. Hanging out with some of my favorite kids just moments before the race. 2nd Annual Turkey Trot from Autumn Nguyen on Vimeo. The students all took off immediately after hearing [...]

I teach 8th graders.  I love that they are brutally honest and are not afraid to speak their mind.  Their moods are absolutely unpredictable which keeps me on my toes.  Some days are tough.  And I mean extremely tough (especially for a momma-to-be) and I leave campus completely wiped out — wondering why I teach.  [...]

This is it — the last day of the 2009-2010 school year!  This day completes my 9 years of teaching — yes, that’s 9 years.  When I started in 2001, I intended to teach for a couple of years (maybe three at the most) and then apply to medical school.  It turns out that I’m [...]

until summer vacation! Spent most of the day yesterday packing up for the year.  I have a lot of stuff.  Way too much stuff … I should really take the time to purge some stuff but I’m not feeling it right now.  I’m just shoved everything in the cabinets and called it good.  It won’t [...]

Jeanne and I both teach physical science, but for a couple days at the end of each year, we put our subject matter aside and give our students a chance to experience a dissection.  It is a lab that many students look forward to.  It is an exciting time.  And it is a perfect way [...]

I’m thrilled that today is my Friday. I’m exhausted from two straight days of launching rockets — 6 periods, 6 set ups, 100 rockets, 200 eager students + lots of sunshine (and mild wind).  There were some great launches today but there was one that was quite spectacular.  And I mean spectacular. With only 500 [...]

Hello excited students.  Hello bottle rockets.  Hello sunshine. Things were going well until we came across the grumpy old man.  My 36 eager students walked out to the large field behind the gym carrying a ton of gear (4 launch pads, 1 launch station, 1 air compressor, 4 trundle wheels, 4 altimeters, 1 anemometer, 1 [...]

1) Yesterday, my Week in the Life project was featured on Ali‘s blog.  I’ve never had so hits on my blog in a matter of two days! 2) Today, my “Hanging out with my peeps” layout was featured on Write. Click. Scrapbook. (Two features in one week — dang, I’m on a roll!) 3) While [...]