AP Summer Institute

APG 498B | The Teaching of AP Biology

The following topics are addressed in this workshop:

1. Course and Exam Description (CED): Discussion of the CED making connections to the curricular requirements.
2. Course Planning: Discussion around the development of a semester and/or yearlong instructional plan that incorporates all units, topics, and skills of the course, as referenced in the CED.
3. AP Classroom: Exploration of examples of how AP Classroom can be utilized to cultivate each skill/practice using example student data provided by College Board and create lesson plans that reinforce topic and skill connections.
4. Assess and Reflect: Practice interpreting data within AP Classroom and the Instructional Planning Report to identify student strengths and weaknesses and reflect on implications for instruction.
5. Strategies and Pedagogical Tools: Identification and explanation of various instructional strategies and tools that you can incorporate into your lesson plans to teach the content and skills in the course and exam description.

The course will be taught by Uma Garimella.

APG 498C | The Teaching of AP Chemistry

This course is designed to equip educators with effective strategies for teaching AP Chemistry, focusing on diverse learning styles and collaborative approaches. Participants will explore a range of instructional techniques, including inquiry-based learning, flipped classrooms, and differentiated instruction, to enhance student engagement and understanding. The course also emphasizes hands-on laboratory experiences, helping teachers integrate practical experiments that align with AP Chemistry curriculum standards. Teachers will develop skills for fostering a collaborative learning environment, enabling students to work together on problem-solving and critical thinking tasks.

The course will be taught by Jessica Burch.

APG 498EN | THE TEACHING OF AP ENGLISH

AP English Literature and Composition is a skills course, and reading, writing, and thinking skills at the highest level are the heart of this challenging English program. Participants will closely and actively examine the AP English Literature exam format and the scoring of sample responses using the analytic rubrics. Once the skills are identified and resources are fully explored, the focus of this hands-on workshop will be the presentation, modeling, and practical application of strategies to teach close reading, analysis, questioning, grammar, rhetoric and writing. All strategies are adaptable to any material currently in use in the participant’s curriculum.

The course will be taught by Paul Cunningham.

APG 498E | THE TEACHING OF AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

This course prepares both new and experienced teachers to effectively plan and teach AP Environmental Science. Participants will learn about the course format including the 9 instructional units, big ideas and science practices and how to use the new “AP Environmental Science Course and Exam and Description” book. 

Experienced teachers will be able to revamp their current course to better align with the Course and Exam Description and Science Practices and strategically plan their entire year. New teachers will be able to design their course from the ground up to ensure a successful first year. All participants will have access to my extensive Google Drive for one year with everything they need including labs, exams, notes, activities and study guides.

Participants will learn about the AP test format and how to effectively prepare students. They will also gain experience with scoring and teaching free-response questions, multiple choice questions and strategies. 

We will go over the new AP Environmental Science Lab Manual labs along with other labs and activities designed to purposefully integrate the science practices of experimental design, data collection and analysis and math calculations. Many of my labs are designed in the 5E format for student inquiry.  

Participants will learn how to use textbooks, instructional materials and instructional strategies for all students to be successful. They will also have time to design their AP course including scaffolding, spiraling and equity and access strategies for all types of schools and students.

Participants will leave with essential materials, labs and lessons to have a great year teaching AP Environmental Science.

Items Participants Should Have:

Participants should have a laptop or tablet that can access the internet, their chosen textbook (if they have one), and a school calendar for the upcoming year.

The course will be taught by Kristi Schertz.

Kristi Schertz is an experienced AP® consultant, professional development leader, author, curriculum developer, and coach for science, AP® courses, science literacy, and technology.  She is currently in her 26rd year teaching and 19th year teaching AP® Environmental Science at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, CA. She is the author of the teacher’s edition for the new 4th edition of AP Environmental Science for the AP Course published by BFW.

Kristi holds a BA in Environmental Biology from California State University Northridge and a MEd in Science Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas Arlington. She has been an AP® reader since 2011 as well as a mentor to new science and AP® teachers. In addition, she is a published author of AP® practice tests and environmental science test prep guides. She also writes a popular blog site for AP® science teachers and enjoys working in the garden and riding her ebike in her spare time.

APG 498 | THE TEACHING OF AP Physics C Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism

This collaborative and supportive AP Summer Institute, hosted by Wilkes University, is designed for both new and experienced teachers of AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. Participants will delve into key topics such as electric fields, circuits, magnetism, and electromagnetic induction, while exploring practical, student-centered strategies to engage learners and foster their confidence in mastering challenging concepts. With a focus on inquiry-based learning, meaningful lab experiences, and thoughtful exam preparation, this course provides educators with valuable resources to inspire student success.

The course will be taught by Scott Berger .

APG 498 | WH THE TEACHING OF AP WORLD HISTORY

2025 Advanced Placement® AP World History: Modern

AP World History: Modern is often one of the first AP courses taught in high school. This APSI is designed to help both new and experienced teachers focus on how to teach both the skills and content for the course. We will concentrate on organizing instruction by reviewing essential content while developing lesson plans that maximize student engagement in a variety of formats. Emphasis will be placed on applying the course skills to the content of the AP Exam, with a focus on teaching and scoring the different types of writing required for success on the exam.

Goals of the Institute

• Familiarize participants with the Curriculum Framework for the AP World History: Modern exam along with College Board online resources.
• Assist participants in signing up for the Course Audit and using AP Classroom.
• Explore the nine units of the course and suggest methods of organizing course content.
• Demonstrate strategies to use in helping students prepare to write short-answer questions and free-response essays and make scoring more manageable.
• Develop unit support to make all students successful.

The course will be taught by Leslie Keeney.