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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Are you a first year teacher? Why else would you be asking parents to make instructional decisions for you. [/quote]

+1 from a different AP teacher. Ask other teachers at your school how it works. You're not the first to teach this class.[/quote]

Why such reaction? I am not a first year teacher. And I have been part of AP teacher community for years, and I have obviously went to AP Summer institutes,  and I am obviously aware of how other teachers approach this. But why wouldn’t I want to know what parents think (especially when public attitude to grading and testing is changing so much)? Why would you shame me for that? 
There are AP classes in my school where 95% kids have As and only 50% kids pass AP Exam (mostly with 3s) while VA and FCPS pass rates for that subject are around 70%. There are classes where grades are more representative of students actual knowledge but teacher uses crazy grade curve to encourage students to stay in class: most hardworking students get A and most students pass with at least a C. But most C students don’t pass exam, most B students get 2-3, and A students get 3-5 on the exam. Finally, there are AP classes where the class grades are very much predictive of the AP Exam grade, not because teacher distributes grades to match the percentages but simply because the grades are based on what students know or don’t know. Students who don’t get their act together in the first quarter are failing the class (and often chose to drop the class). 
I am sorry to say but responses like “good teacher teaches so that all students do well in class and do well on the AP exam” are just neither realistic nor helpful. And I also want to add that the choice the teacher makes here affects all students in class not just the top and bottom students. Again, I myself do not see how giving everyone an A is ok but could argue for either of the other two options . And just wanted to hear parents’ thoughts. [/quote]

Nobody shamed you, but trying to plan your class and how you instruct/grade to appease parents is not how one teaches, especially in a (theoretically) advanced class that students choose to take. The only teachers I know who think it’s best to ask students and parents what they prefer when running their class are the ones who don’t have a clear instructional plan or much experience. [/quote]

I don't get the impression the teacher is asking in order to make instructional plans.  I suspect they are  trying to understand the mindset of a parent body which often places ridiculous demands on teachers.[/quote]

She asked right in the OP how parents would prefer the class to be graded… [/quote]

I am original poster. I am not looking for opinions or advice from teachers. I am not looking for opinions or advice from anyone on how to teach my class or how to assess my students. My question TO PARENTS is rather simple:  
if your child is taking an AP class, would you prefer the class grade of any student in this class be a clear predictor of the AP exam grade (A student should expect 5, B student should expect 4, C student should expect 3) or would you prefer that the class grades to be curved up so that all students who do work get get at least a C, students who demonstrate mastery at the level 2 or 3 get a B, students who know enough to pass with at least a 3 get an A.

This is not a question on what is included in instruction or in the test. AP curriculum is taught and assessed at AP level. This is not a question on how tests are graded - students get feedback based on AP level rubrics. This IS  a question on the class grade calculation.

I guess it boils down to this: do you think the class grade should be different for students who show mastery at 2 vs 3 and 3 vs 4 vs 5 level? Or do you feel that ensuring higher GPA for all students (and as result, having more students sign for and staying in class) is more important? Again, one can argue both ways.

Please no teacher responses.[/quote]

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