11 things every AP Science Teacher should know

There really is no end to the conversations we can have about effectively teaching Advanced Placement © Science classes. This is list is not intended to be the end of the dialogue. Quite the contrary, I am getting my thoughts on paper so we have a shared understanding of what effective science education looks like. These are my ideas, most of which were stolen from teachers I admire and learned from. I would love to see this list expand. Perhaps by August 2011, we will have a collaborative page of 100 things AP Science teachers should know.

Number 1: My sole reason for is existing is to help you become a better teacher and help you engage your students so they have a better understanding of science. If you are struggling with the curriculum, I will help you work around the rough spots. If you’re a good teacher, I want to help you become a great teacher. If you’re a great teacher, I want to help you be one of the best teachers on the planet.

Number 2: As you plan each unit, or each learning cycle, or each daily lesson, I want you to keep two guiding questions in mind. Regardless of your learning objectives, consider these questions, “What do I want my students to know?” and, “What do I want my students to be able to do?” These questions should guide our actions in the classroom.

Number 3: Science education should be a progression. Concepts and skills students learn early should be easier and less complex than the concepts and skills they acquire later in the year. Further, the concepts they learn early should support the concepts they learn later while the concepts they learn later should reinforce the concepts they learned earlier. This is the essence of a Learning Cycle. The goal is for students to gain understanding of the subject they are learning.

Number 4: Teaching is a social endeavor. We must acknowledge students’ preconceptions and misconceptions, and we have to acknowledge the realities of being a teenager in the 21st century. These are not limits on what we can do in the classroom, but by understanding where our students are coming from, we can more easily get them where we want them to go.

Number 5: Own the culture of your classroom! Teach bell to bell and engage your students in the learning. You should be pushing and stretching your kids. Yes, they will be working hard, and they should be rewarded for their efforts. As the old saying goes, “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” Be great; and never let obstacles derail you. Find a work around to a problem. Reach out to your Lead Teacher or reach out to me. We are in this together.

Number 6: Bring AP style questions and especially real Free Response Questions (FRQ) into your classroom. Answering these questions is a learned skill. It requires familiarity and practice. Avoiding AP level questions until the end of the year is a disservice to your students.

Number 7: “3 plus or minus 2”. This is a saying from a good friend of mine who was the leading paddling instructor in the nation back in the 90s. It means on a given day, you can teach somebody three new skills. When conditions are excellent, you can teach them five things. On the worst days, you may only teach them one skill. This has applications in the classroom and the laboratory as well. If every student in your AP classes learns one new thing everyday, you are doing well. If each of your students learns 3 new things every day; then rock on with your bad self. If you can teach every student five new things, call me immediately, I want to hear about it.

Number 8: AP Science is a marathon, not a sprint. Even if you hit the wall, you will finish, and you will be praised.

Number 9: I want all the teachers that work with A+ College Ready to be Consciously Competent. We can talk more about this as the year progresses.

Number 10: The teaching trinity: Ideal science teachers in the 21st century have command of their content, they know the appropriate pedagogical approaches and they employ appropriate technology to engage their students and teach their lessons. My role is to help with any of these three areas. This model is fluid and we can all improve in each of these areas.

Number 11: You have the power. I can model best practices. I can help you with technology integration. We can talk about science and science education until we’re blue in the face. You can sit through hours of training and professional development. But…you’ve got to implement the things that you learn. You’ve got to implement the best curriculum and the best activities into your classroom. You’ve got to engage your students. In closing, I’ve got your back, but you’ve got the power. Use it well.