First Time AP

Teachers
AP Summit
CRHS
September 13, 2016

Focus for Today

How to design curriculum around an assessment

without teaching to the test but still ensuring
student success on the test

Using formative assessment strategies and AP

level summative assessments that are high
school appropriate

Anecdotal tips about AP specific challenges

First: A Warning

Teaching AP is difficult.

Where do you start?

Learn the material

Find the course description and topic/concept
outline
Become an expert on the topics

Create a timeline for the year

Use the topic/concept outline

Research what other teachers have done
Look at your school calendar
Leave time at the end of the year

Understand the Exam

Familiarize yourself with the structure and

scoring of your exam

Research the rubrics for FRQs

Is there a formula sheet? Can students use

calculators?

Teach with Passion

Designing Instruction

Time is tight, so make the most of it

Assign reading
Flipped instruction

Focus on concepts, not problems

Designing Instruction

Give students memorable learning

experiences

Designing Instruction

Dont reinvent the wheel

Resources are abundant

Designing Instruction

Teach students to
communicate effectively

Designing Instruction

Incorporate elements of the AP exam in

class
Multiple choice

Warm Ups
Kahoot/Quizizz
Schoology Quizzes
Four Corners activity

Free Response
Allow students to see and use the scoring guidelines
Look at sample responses
Use time limits

Designing Instruction

Teach common mistakes

Teach test taking strategies

Designing Instruction

Review throughout the year

Warm Ups
Practice tests
Unit wrap ups
Concept maps

Designing Assessment

Formative assessment is still important

Student Self-Assessment

Red/yellow/green cards
Thumbs up/down
Stoplight
Self scoring

Designing Assessment

Create summative assessments that mirror

the structure of the AP Exam
Question Type
Time Limit

Score assessments as they are on the AP

Exam

Designing Assessment

Consider allowing test corrections

Explain why they got the question wrong and
show the correct solution
Receive 50% of missed points back
Gives extra opportunities to master the material

Designing Assessments

Have high expectations, but remember that

they are high school students

In 2012, students needed only a 44% on the

AP Stat exam to earn a 3 and a 70% to earn
a5

AP Specific Challenges

Students who take AP classes are often

those who have never had to study before
You cant expect them to be college level students
on day 1
You may need to teach study and note taking
skills
Scaffold at the beginning of the year, then slowly
back off and require more student responsibility

AP Specific Challenges

Students may not ask questions because

they do not want to look dumb in front of
their AP level peers
Create a community atmosphere where students
are comfortable with one another
Incorporate group work
Have the discussion

AP Specific Challenges

Cheating is prevalent
Monitoring during assessments is essential
Make different versions of tests
Clear calculators before test

Parents can be enthusiastic

Communicate frequently
Be clear about expectations and policies

Lets Explore

www.firsttimeap.weebly.com

Contact Me

Samantha Timlin
Caesar Rodney High School
samantha.timlin@cr.k12.de.us