Taught by Terri Susan Fine, Ph.D
Course description
This workshop will address the scope and sequence of the AP® US Government and Politics course, including a basic outline, important concepts, and suggested timelines for instruction. There will be a strong emphasis on utilizing multiple pedagogical strategies within a strong content-driven approach, the assessment linked to the course, and lesson development within the context of formative and summative assessment.
Objectives
- Understand the mission and goals of the College Board®
- Develop teaching objectives, content, techniques, and strategies for AP® U.S. Government
- Develop a successful and effective AP® U.S. Government syllabus
- Ascertain strategies for successful test taking
- Understand multiple choice and free response question evaluation
- Review course content, skills, and assessment
- Share best practices
Course description
In the workshop we will focus on four core goals:
- Developing an understanding of the core content foci of the Advanced Placement® U.S. Government course
- Integrating active learning strategies into the course
- Utilizing formative and summative assessments
- Strategizing for student success, student content knowledge, and support utilizing freely available politics and government resources.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have the tools, resources, and skills to successfully teach AP® U.S. Government and Politics.
Each day we will focus on three aspects of the course: course content, AP® course requirements (e.g., skills, syllabi, assessment) and best practices. We will take a flexible approach such that everyone’s needs are met. All workshop materials will be made available using Google Drive so that you will have ready electronic access to all workshop materials during and after the workshop.
Daily course outline
Each day runs 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Pacific. There will be a daily one-hour lunch break and a short break each morning and afternoon.
Monday, Day 1
- Introductions and workshop overview
- The mission and goals of the College Board
- The Course and Exam Description (CED) and course overview
- Exam design and overview
- Multiple choice questions-development and success strategies
- Unit 1 overview and resources
Tuesday, Day 2
- Course pedagogy and lesson development
- Unit 2 overview and resources
- Formative Assessment
- Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Teaching about government institutions
- Unpacking and scoring the argument essay
Wednesday, Day 3
- Unit 3 overview and resources
- Free Response Questions: formats, success strategies and development
- AP® Classroom Overview
- Unpacking and scoring the Concept Application FRQ
Thursday, Day 4
- Unit 4 overview and resources
- AP® U.S. Government and Politics Teacher Community
- Preparing for the national exam
- Unpacking and scoring the SCOTUS Comparison FRQ
Friday, Day 5
- Unit 5 overview and resources
- Unpacking and scoring the Data Analysis FRQ
- Syllabus requirements and syllabus development
- Course and unit planning
- Final questions and farewell