Pre-Conference Workshops
July 13, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
AP® Administrator
Growing an AP Program: A Workshop for Administrators
This workshop provides an in-depth survey of effective ways to start and support an AP® program. Beginning with a review of the benefits of the Advanced Placement Program® for schools, this workshop explores ways that administrators can provide support for their AP teachers and students. In addition, this workshop helps administrators learn how to use data effectively to promote equitable growth and provides tools for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of existing AP programs, with an emphasis on areas of future growth. Finally, the workshop covers specific administrative topics, such as models for obtaining financial support from community organizations; effective school policies (grade weighting, setting expectations for exam-taking); and effective use of block schedules to offer AP courses.
Counselor
College Advising Basics for New School Counselors
This one-day workshop is designed for school counselors with less than three years of experience and is focused on the transition from high school to postsecondary education. Participants will leave this workshop with a better understanding of the college admissions and enrollment process and the needs and challenges of student and parents pursuing educational options after high school.NOSCA: Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling
This one-day workshop uses case studies to help participants improve their knowledge and understanding of the ethics of equitable programs, malpractice in academic advising, legal requirements governing educational records, the legal and ethical practice of writing letters of recommendation, the impact of dual relationships, the responsibilities of professional distance, the complications of confidentiality, and minors' rights to privacy.NOSCA: Use of Data As a Tool for Systemic Change for School Counselors
This one-day workshop is for practicing school counselors. Participants will learn how to access, analyze, disaggregate, cross-tabulate and chart longitudinal data directly linked to student achievement through the use of data sources such as national databases; state, district, and school report cards; and outside sources such as College Board reports. Additionally, participants will learn how to assess their current programs and services to begin the process of developing a data-driven school counseling program.
SAT®
SAT® Holistic Scoring
This workshop provides teachers with practice using holistic scoring, which judges a piece of writing by the overall impression it creates. Teachers learn:- How to use holistic scoring to assess writing
- Sound strategies to assist student writers
- The role of effective writing prompts in student success and valid assessment
SAT Writing Preparation for ESL/ELL Students
This workshop helps teachers prepare students who have recently exited ESL/ELL classes for the writing section of the SAT by using models and hands-on exercises. Teachers learn:- How to help culturally and linguistically diverse populations approach the SAT writing section
- Strategies to motivate, empower, and encourage students to face the SAT writing section with confidence
- To reflect on their own teaching practices through activities and group discussions.
School-Based SAT Preparation
This workshop provides teachers with activities and materials to design school-based SAT preparation sessions. The first half of the workshop brings to life material in The Official SAT Teacher's Guide. Teachers are separated during the second half of the workshop and will focus on English or math content areas. Teachers learn:- About the SAT format and question types on the math, critical reading and writing sections
- How to plan and conduct their preparation sessions according to student and class needs
- To effectively bring print and online SAT Readiness Program resources into the classroom.
AP
- European History
- United States History
- World History
Pre-AP®
For educators of grades 6-12
English
Strategies in English-Differentiated Instruction in Middle School Language Arts
The focus of this one-day workshop is differentiated classroom strategies that allow all students access to high-level language arts content. Although the activities can be modified for high school students, the content is more appropriate for a middle school audience. High school teachers who are part of an AP English Vertical Team benefit from this workshop by modifying the strategies for their students. Administrators might be interested in the strategies as they can be applied to all disciplines. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to apply differentiated instruction strategies to product, process, and content in their language arts curriculum; understand why it is important to build a strong relationship with students; understand the need to assess students continually; understand how to present all students with equally challenging curriculum; and empower students to take charge of their own learning.Advanced Topics for AP Vertical Teams™ in English Grammar
This one-day workshop draws from cognitive research on language acquisition and examines some of the best practices from traditional grammar instruction, linguistics, writing, and the whole language approach. Experienced English teachers understand that grammar cannot be isolated from other aspects of language arts instruction. They also know that there is no single correct approach to this complex subject. Specific topics include rules of usage, parts of speech, patterns of words, structure of sentences, and arrangement of sentences. Through activities, participants will examine the role grammar plays in promoting clear communication and close reading skills. When appropriate, discussions of rhetoric and style will be added.Strategies in English—Beyond Acronyms: Close Reading
This one-day workshop is designed to help middle and early high school teachers facilitate inquiry-based practices through close reading in their classrooms. Questioning strategies are used to promote critical thinking, starting at the introductory level. The workshop teaches participants classroom strategies that allow students to ask and generate questions, develop the ability to actively engage with any text, and analyze and document their own thinking while reading. Topics addressed include close reading questioning, critical thinking question stems, dialectical journaling, analytical writing, and holistic assessment.Strategies in English—Rhetoric
This one-day workshop is designed to help teachers understand the classical art of rhetoric in its two senses: language as crafted for an audience; and the ability to find, evaluate, and use all of the available tools of language to achieve a purpose or an effect in a given situation. Participants will learn effective techniques by engaging in activities that will enable them to teach their students important rhetorical theory principles-such as the importance of the unstated assumption in both the creation and analysis of arguments, the nature of arrangement, and relation of style to form-that underlie the effectiveness of excellent writers and support the clear thinking and sound judgment of successful readers.Strategies in English—Comedy
This one-day workshop is designed to help middle and high school English teachers build a repertoire of strategies for responding to comic writing. Working with examples that illustrate recurring features of structure, language, and reasoning that are the foundation for studying comedy of any period, we will build a working vocabulary for describing the genre's patterns, conventions, and effects. The workshop will investigate both the elements of comedy-sight, sound, structure, situation, plot, and character types-and its special modes-farce, parody, satire, and irony. Most important, we will explore techniques teachers can use to encourage students to be analytical about a mode that works because it is quirky.
Mathematics
Strategies in Mathematics—Developing Algebraic Thinking
This one-day workshop is for mathematics teachers in grades 6-10. It provides teachers with hands-on activities and techniques to help students develop algebraic reasoning. A key feature of this workshop is the use of graphing calculators to help students visualize and explore algebra from graphic, numerical, and analytical perspectives as well as from traditional symbolic representations. Objectives for participants in this workshop include learning to develop techniques by using inquiry learning in teaching algebraic thinking, using patterns to find relationships, using tables in investigating relationships, and describing patterns using both recursive and closed relationships.Strategies in Mathematics-—Functions
This one-day workshop enriches the data analysis topics taught in the middle and secondary grades by providing examples of activities where students collect data, use graphs and numerical summaries to get information from data, and communicate that information. By assuming the role of the student and through discussion, participants will learn engaging strategies to discuss data collection and experimental design issues as they work through exercises and share observations and conclusions. Please note that science educators will also find this workshop beneficial.Strategies in Mathematics—Analyzing and Describing Data
This one-day workshop allows teachers to develop a deep content knowledge of functions for teachers and discusses grade-level-appropriate content and classroom strategies, including using technology to promote understanding. Teachers will acquire skills that promote methodical thinking and clear communication of thought processes by all of their students. This workshop illustrates a guided-exploration approach as a pedagogical model that emphasizes student thinking as the key to learning and communication as the key to assessing understanding. Specific topics include linear, quadratic, and nonlinear functions.Advanced Topics for AP Vertical Teams in Mathematics-Assessment
This one-day workshop teaches middle and high school math teachers techniques of assessment designed to support instruction for students as active learners and problem solvers. Educators increasingly recognize that the purpose of classroom assessment of student achievement is to help teachers make decisions about instruction. Assessments, reliability, validity, scoring guidelines, and performance appraisals are the key topics covered in this workshop.
Music Theory
Topics for AP Vertical Teams in Music Theory
Because it teaches and reinforces music theory skills and concepts from one grade level to the next, a vertical team in music is an ideal way to prepare students for AP Music Theory. This one-day workshop shows how content can drive collaboration and communication among music teachers (not only music theory teachers, but classroom, band, choir, and orchestra teachers as well) to further music literacy in students and help them develop as musicians. Teachers will gain an understanding of the impact team building within music departments and the district has on the overall learning experience of the student when preparing for the AP Music Theory Exam. Specific subject topics addressed will include musical analysis and listening skills
Science
Topics for AP Vertical Teams in Science
This one-day workshop is for teachers, counselors, and administrators interested in sequencing curricula and instruction to facilitate student preparedness for AP science courses and for college. Topics covered include density junctures, measuring devices, and national science standards. The workshop also addresses teaming activities such as sequencing, goal planning, and action plans. At the end of the workshop, participants will understand what an AP Vertical Team is and how to incorporate vertical sequencing into their curricula.Strategies in Science—Energy Systems
This one-day workshop was developed for high school science teachers interested in designing integrated, theme-based instruction to prepare students for AP science courses. The activities and discussions in this workshop are designed to help teachers identify concepts in energy that extend across all science subjects. At the end of the workshop, participants will understand how to identify energy concepts in biology, earth science, chemistry, and physics and how to make curriculum decisions to increase student achievement and better prepare students for AP science courses. Topics addressed include kinetic versus potential energy, heat versus temperature, bonding, and energy transformations in living systems.Strategies in Science—Inquiry-Based Laboratories for Middle Schools
This one-day workshop introduces middle school science teachers to inquiry-based laboratory instruction. Through activities and discussions, participants will learn to use inquiry-based laboratories to teach science processing, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to students and prepare them for the rigorous course work in high school and college. Topics addressed include laboratory roles, traditional versus inquiry-based laboratory activities, using inquiry-based labs to teach critical thinking skills, and assessing inquiry-based laboratory activities.
Social Studies
Strategies in Social Studies—Using Visual Materials in Middle-Grade Classrooms
This one-day workshop will present middle school teachers with strategies for analyzing and synthesizing nontext sources in middle school history and geography classrooms. The participants will examine models of questioning for works of art, cartoons, quantitative data such as charts or graphs, and photographs. Once these models have been presented, participants will use them to construct thesis statements and written passages about issues affecting middle school social studies courses, with the aim of promoting student skills of source analysis, evaluation, and synthesis.-
Advanced Topics for AP Vertical Teams in Social Studies—Developing Reading Habits
This one-day workshop gives social studies teachers new strategies to develop their students' ability to read critically. The workshop is based on the premise that a coherent, articulated program of effective strategies will improve student performance in essay writing by giving students a framework that allows them to develop their writing proficiency. Although individual teachers will benefit from the strategies presented here, the power of the strategies is best realized through an AP Vertical Team that spans both Pre-AP and AP level (grades 6-12) social studies classes. Topics addressed include reading research, questioning grids, main idea clusters, text charting, reading pods, and utilizing the AP Vertical Team to develop analytical and critical reading skills.
Spanish
Strategies in Spanish: Developing Language Skills
The goal of this one-day workshop is to enable teachers to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language course by fostering development of language skills. The workshop motivates and inspires Spanish teachers to reevaluate their school's foreign language curriculum and familiarize themselves with the basic principles of reading assessments, essay writing, brainstorming, vocabulary building, sentence structure, listening, reading, and speaking. Assessment instruments are also discussed.Strategies in Spanish: Literary Analysis
The goal of this one-day workshop is to enable teachers to help students develop the reading skills necessary for the AP Spanish Literature course. The focus is on reading comprehension of Spanish text passages. Prereading, reading, and postreading skills are emphasized. Assessment is also discussed.Strategies in Spanish: Writing Skills
With the completion of this one-day workshop, participants will gain a better understanding of how to design writing instruction that enhances students' preparedness for AP Spanish Language courses. Topics addressed include writing processes, essays, and assessing writing.
Studio Art
Topics for AP Vertical Teams in Studio Art
Participants in this one-day workshop will become familiar with the College Board's mission to provide access and equity to all students. Participants will learn strategies used by AP Studio Art Vertical Teams in developing curricula for 2-D, 3-D, and Drawing courses; learn the content and skills necessary for student success in AP Studio Art; and become familiar with the standards of a vertical curriculum and the role of Pre-AP® in helping to develop those standards. Topics addressed include making the case for an AP Vertical Team in Studio Art, depth and concentration, portfolios and portfolio evaluation, strategy development across grade levels, using sketchbooks and journals, and assessment.
World Languages and Cultures
Topics for AP Vertical Teams in World Languages and Cultures
During the course of this one-day workshop, participants will learn about topics related to the creation of strong teams of language educators, within the same school setting and across grades, with the goal of growing effective, advanced programs of language study. Curriculum articulation, the ACTFL Standards, and shared reflective practice will be discussed. Participants will also consider skills articulation across grade levels, and how to build students' fluency for long-term retention and success. This workshop will be presented in English with examples in English.Strategies in World Languages and Cultures-Building Proficiency
The goal of this one-day workshop is to present world language teaching and learning strategies, grounded in the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language Standards, that build beginning and intermediate students' proficiency in the target language. By examining the best ways to achieve acquisition of a new language, target language production, and retention of acquired skills, participants will learn how to prepare their students for more advanced language study. The workshop will focus on communicative and cultural skills integration, designing activities for a variety of learning styles, and building success for new second language learners. This workshop will be presented in English with examples in English.
Team Building
Setting the Cornerstones™ for the AP Vertical Team
This one-day workshop is organized for AP Vertical Teams. Participants will be provided with information about the College Board and the Advanced Placement Program and will learn to engage teams in strategies for establishing coherence, collegiality, and collaboration among their members. The workshop addresses establishing, maintaining, and evaluating AP Vertical Teams.Coaching and Sustaining Successful AP Vertical Teams
This one-day workshop is provided by the College Board and supported by local school districts. Its purpose is to train district-selected individuals to lead district and College Board initiatives in vertical teaming within the district. It is designed to facilitate the process of combining distract/state curriculum and structures with those of the College Board so that the two work successfully together to accomplish mutual goals. This workshop will provide a rich learning environment that will enable participants to understand the critical role of an AP Vertical Team curriculum, goals, and plans that align with national and state standards, district strategic plans, and local school improvement plans; strengthen leadership skills; and establish and maintain relationships with College Board staff and other stakeholders.
Instructional Leadership Strategies
Using Data to Improve Student Preparation in Advanced Placement Programs
This one-day workshop is designed for administrators, counselors, and teachers interested in collecting, organizing, analyzing, and using data for continuing school improvement and creating access to AP courses for all students. At the end of the workshop, participants will understand how to use data effectively to make placement and curricular decisions. Topics addressed include destroying achievement myths, using data to close achievement gaps, disaggregating data, and assessing policies and practices.Promoting Equity and Excellence in Advanced Placement Program Courses
This one-day workshop is designed for administrators, counselors, and teachers interested in examining issues related to the development of instructional programs that reflect excellence and equity. The activities and discussions in this workshop are designed to help participants identify excellence and equity concepts that apply to all subject areas and further prepare students for AP courses. At the end of the workshop, participants will understand how to create high-achievement classrooms accessible to all students and how to make curricular decisions to increase student achievement and access to AP courses.Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating the Inclusion of Special-Needs Students in Curriculum that Leads to College
This one-day workshop is for middle school and high school administrators who have building-level or districtwide responsibilities for curriculum and instruction. At the end of the workshop, participants will have the knowledge and skills to plan, implement, and evaluate their school's or district's inclusion of students with special needs in courses that lead to college. Participants will explore how their beliefs impact inclusion of students and student performance; develop a working definition of inclusion; define who are students with special needs; have an understanding of the interconnectedness of legislation, inclusion, and student performance; learn how to use quality indicators in planning, implementing, and evaluating inclusion programs; have a clearer understanding of test accommodations; and develop a model for schools to meet College Board documentation guidelines (SAT®, PSAT/NMSQT®, and AP).
Advanced AP Seminar
Teaching Fiction: What to Teach, How to Teach It, and Why
This workshop focuses on approaches to teaching fiction in the high school classroom, including AP and Pre-AP courses. Participants will read, analyze, and discuss a few short pieces of prose fiction, along with excerpts from a couple of novels. For the novels, we will look a the beginnings and endings, and how to work with them in class. The workshop's emphasis will be on strategies for interpretation and for teaching students to become more competent and confident readers of fiction, whether novels or short stories. Participants can expect to be challenged to think critically and creatively during the session. And they can expect to come away with ideas for enhancing their students (and their own) understanding of and pleasure in reading and teaching works of fiction.Writing High-Quality Science Test Questions
Environmental Science 8 a.m. - noon
This half-day workshop will introduce the techniques of writing and reviewing multiple-choice questions. Participants will learn to control the difficulty and the validity of questions, and how to avoid common errors. Participants will also learn about opportunities to write questions for College Board exams.
Biology: 1- 5 p.m.
This half-day workshop will introduce the techniques of writing and reviewing multiple-choice questions. Participants will learn to control the difficulty and the validity of questions, and how to avoid common errors. Participants will also learn about opportunities to write questions for College Board exams.
