42 Years Later: Why I’m Terrified to Teach Next Year

The 42-Year Calculus Challenge I just walked out of my end-of-year evaluation with my assistant principal, and I was handed my assignment for next fall: AP Physics with Calculus. I am one part excited and one part completely terrified. I am a chemist by trade. I understand physics well, but my last calculus class was 42 years ago.

To prepare, I am practicing exactly what I preach to my students: Analog Roots. I have a massive physics textbook on order, and I bought a simple, blank composition notebook. I will be manually solving every single problem by hand this summer to stay at least a unit or two ahead. I am stepping completely back into learner mode.

The Heartbreak on the Final Exam (Listen at 01:58) As I record this, the final bells have rung and the desks are empty. But right at the finish line, my mood turned sour. I discovered that a student I deeply care about made a very poor choice regarding academic integrity on his final science test.

It broke my heart. It’s an administrative hassle, yes, but more importantly, it’s a painful reminder of the shortcuts kids are taking today. But as educators, we have to reframe these moments. This isn’t just an infraction; it’s a critical opportunity for a young man to grow, learn about consequences, and find a better path forward.

Flipped Learning Goes Global (Listen at 03:06) By the time you listen to this, I will be on a plane to South America. The largest medical school in Brazil has invited me to speak to their doctors, professors, and dentists about the MasteryFlip model and how to teach clinical logic in the age of AI.

The pace of digital change is moving faster than any time in human history. As educational researcher Justin Reich famously noted, nobody truly knows how to teach in the AI era yet—we need thousands of teachers stepping up to try things out.

That experimentation led me to launch the MasteryFlip Certification. The battle-tested blueprint is ready, and the 50% off introductory window is open at jonbergmann.com until this Friday.

The 750-Mile Escape (Listen at 04:44) Once I return from Brazil and spend a week with my incredible wife, I am disappearing into a militant Analog Reset. I am joining a small crew to cycle 750 miles over 17 days from Salt Lake City to the Grand Canyon through Bryce Canyon.

We are riding with the Fuller Center for Housing to build homes for the unhoused along the way. The rules are simple: we are limited to a 40-pound bag, and electronics are strictly discouraged. I need to get away from screens and reconnect with God, nature, and humanity.

Our summer batteries are at zero percent. Whether it’s a bike ride, summer school like my daughter is teaching, or traveling to see family, protect your time. Unplug. Recharge. Reclaim your sanity so you can come back next fall ready to transform lives.

Ride on, Jon 

Key Moments

00:00 - Terrified & Excited: My New AP Physics Assignment
01:20 - The Silence of an Empty Room 229
01:58 - Heartbreak at the Finish Line: An Academic Integrity Mistake
03:06 - Flipped Learning Goes Global: Heading to Brazil
04:44 - The Analog Reset: 750 Miles to the Grand Canyon
06:15 - Solving the Calculus Problem with Old-School Notebooks
07:05 - Why Nobody Knows How to Teach in the Age of AI
08:15 - The "Good Grief" of Saying Goodbye to My Seniors
09:20 - MasteryFlip Certification Launch (Founding Member Special)
10:00 - Summer Challenge: Reaching Your Own Family First