AP World History

[Anonymous]

77% on an AP exam would be a 5.

The issue isn’t the teaching/learning, it’s that grades should probably be curved. I teach a different AP course, and every training I’ve been to has discussed options for curving. Most of us do, some don’t. With the old gradebook, you could fluff up low test grades with classwork and projects, but with the new summative:formative that’s harder to do and grades really should be curved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:77% on an AP exam would be a 5.

The issue isn’t the teaching/learning, it’s that grades should probably be curved. I teach a different AP course, and every training I’ve been to has discussed options for curving. Most of us do, some don’t. With the old gradebook, you could fluff up low test grades with classwork and projects, but with the new summative:formative that’s harder to do and grades really should be curved.

How do we know do they will curve it? It hasn’t been mentioned, but it’s also not in SIS yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To make matters worse, the teacher doesn’t really teach either.

Are you in the classroom enough to make this accusation?

Honestly, the class is just hard.

A 77% on the first test sounds about right where a strong student should be at this time of year.

The AP world teachers are usually some of the strongest history teachers at the school because the class is such a challenge and dramatic jump in expectations for the kid.

With a 77, it sounds like the teacher is doing a very hood job teaching the material and holding your kid to standards.

Wrong. We actually had to buy several resources online (complete course videos and worksheets) because the teacher doesn’t do any sort of lecture or PowerPoint or go over any info. No guidance whatsoever consolidating the massive amount of info and helping break down what’s actually important. No study guide was provided in class prior to the test and the kids did no practice SAQs on any of the info leading up to the test. It’s all self study at this point. They weren’t even told what makes a good SAQ. We found videos online to help with that as well. It’s so bad I decided to learn the material alongside my child and watch all the videos as well so I can help my child study. We spent hours poring over the course videos and worksheets which I purchased online. There was nothing from the actual teacher. The only reason my child was able to get a 77 was because I worked with them at home and purchased additional materials. I asked my child how the other kids did - they said a lot of their classmates had bad scores - ranging from 50-65%. It doesn’t surprise me based on what my child tells me goes in class.

We are so disappointed because we had heard such good things about this teacher. I now think the kids liked him because they actually do nothing in class.

Sounds really similar to how DD’s class is going. She is using Heimler and we’re buying other resources so she can self teach. She is basically doing the same in her other AP classes too. I’m thinking maybe that’s just how AP classes are; the instructors assign a book, and the kids teach themselves.

Maybe our kids are in the same class!

That thought had crossed my mind. Except I think she said that the teacher has been talking non-stop about the AP exam, so maybe not.

She does like the teacher, BTW. Says he's a chill guy, which seems to be the criterion (she also appreciates non-chill teachers that can actually teach). She was stressing over an upcoming test, and he told her that she can just cheat, that none of them care. No, she didn't take that advice.

What kind of advice is that?? My child’s teacher is also male and my child likes him as well. But no actual going over the material - more just tips and tricks for the exam. I was surprised they didn’t do any SAQ practice for this particular test as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:77% on an AP exam would be a 5.

The issue isn’t the teaching/learning, it’s that grades should probably be curved. I teach a different AP course, and every training I’ve been to has discussed options for curving. Most of us do, some don’t. With the old gradebook, you could fluff up low test grades with classwork and projects, but with the new summative:formative that’s harder to do and grades really should be curved.

How do we know do they will curve it? It hasn’t been mentioned, but it’s also not in SIS yet.

You don't. Contact the teacher if you want to know. No one else can answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:77% on an AP exam would be a 5.

The issue isn’t the teaching/learning, it’s that grades should probably be curved. I teach a different AP course, and every training I’ve been to has discussed options for curving. Most of us do, some don’t. With the old gradebook, you could fluff up low test grades with classwork and projects, but with the new summative:formative that’s harder to do and grades really should be curved.

How do we know do they will curve it? It hasn’t been mentioned, but it’s also not in SIS yet.

You don't. Contact the teacher if you want to know. No one else can answer.

He gets grumpy if you ask about grades in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thinking this class was a mistake as it’s going to ruin my child’s GPA.

It's October. Tell your kid to study harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To make matters worse, the teacher doesn’t really teach either.

Are you in the classroom enough to make this accusation?

Honestly, the class is just hard.

A 77% on the first test sounds about right where a strong student should be at this time of year.

The AP world teachers are usually some of the strongest history teachers at the school because the class is such a challenge and dramatic jump in expectations for the kid.

With a 77, it sounds like the teacher is doing a very hood job teaching the material and holding your kid to standards.

Wrong. We actually had to buy several resources online (complete course videos and worksheets) because the teacher doesn’t do any sort of lecture or PowerPoint or go over any info. No guidance whatsoever consolidating the massive amount of info and helping break down what’s actually important. No study guide was provided in class prior to the test and the kids did no practice SAQs on any of the info leading up to the test. It’s all self study at this point. They weren’t even told what makes a good SAQ. We found videos online to help with that as well. It’s so bad I decided to learn the material alongside my child and watch all the videos as well so I can help my child study. We spent hours poring over the course videos and worksheets which I purchased online. There was nothing from the actual teacher. The only reason my child was able to get a 77 was because I worked with them at home and purchased additional materials. I asked my child how the other kids did - they said a lot of their classmates had bad scores - ranging from 50-65%. It doesn’t surprise me based on what my child tells me goes in class.

We are so disappointed because we had heard such good things about this teacher. I now think the kids liked him because they actually do nothing in class.

pls provide a link to your course videos and worksheets. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To make matters worse, the teacher doesn’t really teach either.

Are you in the classroom enough to make this accusation?

Honestly, the class is just hard.

A 77% on the first test sounds about right where a strong student should be at this time of year.

The AP world teachers are usually some of the strongest history teachers at the school because the class is such a challenge and dramatic jump in expectations for the kid.

With a 77, it sounds like the teacher is doing a very hood job teaching the material and holding your kid to standards.

Wrong. We actually had to buy several resources online (complete course videos and worksheets) because the teacher doesn’t do any sort of lecture or PowerPoint or go over any info. No guidance whatsoever consolidating the massive amount of info and helping break down what’s actually important. No study guide was provided in class prior to the test and the kids did no practice SAQs on any of the info leading up to the test. It’s all self study at this point. They weren’t even told what makes a good SAQ. We found videos online to help with that as well. It’s so bad I decided to learn the material alongside my child and watch all the videos as well so I can help my child study. We spent hours poring over the course videos and worksheets which I purchased online. There was nothing from the actual teacher. The only reason my child was able to get a 77 was because I worked with them at home and purchased additional materials. I asked my child how the other kids did - they said a lot of their classmates had bad scores - ranging from 50-65%. It doesn’t surprise me based on what my child tells me goes in class.

We are so disappointed because we had heard such good things about this teacher. I now think the kids liked him because they actually do nothing in class.

pls provide a link to your course videos and worksheets. Thanks.

DP. I will say is that while Heimler's History on YouTube is really terrific, his subscription does not add much value, so no need to pay to use that as a resource. Reddit has tons of advice/links, and that's what I used as a starting point to collate information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:77% on an AP exam would be a 5.

The issue isn’t the teaching/learning, it’s that grades should probably be curved. I teach a different AP course, and every training I’ve been to has discussed options for curving. Most of us do, some don’t. With the old gradebook, you could fluff up low test grades with classwork and projects, but with the new summative:formative that’s harder to do and grades really should be curved.

How do we know do they will curve it? It hasn’t been mentioned, but it’s also not in SIS yet.

You don't. Contact the teacher if you want to know. No one else can answer.

He gets grumpy if you ask about grades in any way.

Are you a student or a parent? Who cares if he's grumpy? It's an email!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To make matters worse, the teacher doesn’t really teach either.

Are you in the classroom enough to make this accusation?

Honestly, the class is just hard.

A 77% on the first test sounds about right where a strong student should be at this time of year.

The AP world teachers are usually some of the strongest history teachers at the school because the class is such a challenge and dramatic jump in expectations for the kid.

With a 77, it sounds like the teacher is doing a very hood job teaching the material and holding your kid to standards.

Wrong. We actually had to buy several resources online (complete course videos and worksheets) because the teacher doesn’t do any sort of lecture or PowerPoint or go over any info. No guidance whatsoever consolidating the massive amount of info and helping break down what’s actually important. No study guide was provided in class prior to the test and the kids did no practice SAQs on any of the info leading up to the test. It’s all self study at this point. They weren’t even told what makes a good SAQ. We found videos online to help with that as well. It’s so bad I decided to learn the material alongside my child and watch all the videos as well so I can help my child study. We spent hours poring over the course videos and worksheets which I purchased online. There was nothing from the actual teacher. The only reason my child was able to get a 77 was because I worked with them at home and purchased additional materials. I asked my child how the other kids did - they said a lot of their classmates had bad scores - ranging from 50-65%. It doesn’t surprise me based on what my child tells me goes in class.

We are so disappointed because we had heard such good things about this teacher. I now think the kids liked him because they actually do nothing in class.

pls provide a link to your course videos and worksheets. Thanks.

We are using Heimler. He has several products on his website.

[Anonymous]

The teacher at our school handed out mostly zeros on the first test. This is a failure of teaching and completely unreasonable. Meanwhile other teachers are handing out As like candy. The school holds nobody accountable anymore and are destroying the mental health of students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP world is tge mist difficult class because it is their firsr "real" high school course where they are expected to write ans learn like an advanced high school student.

If they put in the work, their grades will improve significantly by the end of the year.

If they treat it like other classes, they will be lucky to eek out a B.

All 3 of mine, from the kid who aced every class without cracking a book, to the one who was a diligent student, to the one who often struggled in school, started AP world with grades ranging from C minus/D plus, to C plus/B minus.

All 3 finished the year with solid As in the class and 5s on the AP exam, including the one whose first grades were Ds.

Tell your kid to buckle down, listen/take notes in class and ask for help.

The class is rigorous and drmanding, but not insurmountable.

If your kid got a C plus on her first assessment, I predict that she is on track for an A in the class, based on my sample of 3 plus all my friends' kids who took AP world in 10th.

What HS? Is there a specific grading style to AP World as compared to other classes? Why isn’t this methodology shared with students and parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher at our school handed out mostly zeros on the first test. This is a failure of teaching and completely unreasonable. Meanwhile other teachers are handing out As like candy. The school holds nobody accountable anymore and are destroying the mental health of students.

What HS is this also? These teachers need to have standards across all classes. Why is no administrator enforcing this?

[Anonymous]

Can everyone who has kids in AP World History share what unit they are on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can everyone who has kids in AP World History share what unit they are on?

Unit 3 - Land based empires.