ap courses in forethought: it’s a process. why do we need a common syllabus? we must create a...
TRANSCRIPT
Why do we need a common syllabus?
We must create a system that
supports the end goal of student
success in Advanced
Placement courses and on the AP
exams.
•We want the students who tackle Advanced Placement coursework to enter the classroom equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills.
•For example: Many students sitting in BISD AP courses are reading at a 7th grade level – this is not good enough.
Why do we need a common syllabus?
• In order to deliver better prepared students to your classrooms, strong vertical alignment must be built into the BISD system.
•Once course syllabi are established, the vertical work can begin to ensure that PreAP courses across the district are precisely aligned to student success in AP courses.
1211109876
Why do we need a common syllabus?
APEXAM
“The world’s best school systems foster a culture of sharing what works and what doesn’t. In the high-scoring schools of Finland, South Korea and Shanghai, studies show, teachers are not like private emperors in their classrooms; they make their practice public, becoming the ‘learners of their own teaching.’”
- Melinda Burns, “Teacher Collaboration Gives Schools Better Results”
Why do we need a common syllabus?
SupportCollaborationBest PracticesStrong Results
Aligned Program
• The goal is NOT to take away individual decisions about teaching in the moment – you are the expert. You know what your students need. You have your own signature teaching style.
• A common syllabus will never take the place of your expertise or overshadow the artistry of your teaching.
Why do we need a common syllabus?
AP Courses: The Process
Identify standards and strands
Prepare standards for entry into Forethought
Develop Common Syllabus
Identify standards taught in each unit of syllabus and create a Scope and
Sequence chart
In Forethought, bundle standards into units based on syllabus and scope and
sequence
Develop standard clarification documents for
each standard
Develop Unit Overviews, Vocabulary, Resources
Develop/locate assessments and
cornerstone tasks for each unit
Phase II and III Work: Align TEKS to AP standards, Identify high-
yield strategies and structures for each unit, develop/locate
exemplar lessons/activities, Vertical Alignment
Standards in Forethought
•Cut and paste to Microsoft Word•Remove all bullets and symbols•Bold each new strand title•Leave a space between each strand
Prepare standards for entry into Forethought
Unit Standards
-Examine each unit on your syllabus
-Identify the standards that are taught within each unit
Identify standards taught in each unit of syllabus and create a Scope and Sequence
chart
Scope and SequenceIdentify standards
taught in each unit of syllabus and create a Scope and Sequence
chart
Standard Clarification DocumentsDevelop standard
clarification documents for each
standard
-Create in Microsoft Word using the template provided
Unit DocumentsDevelop Unit Overviews,
Vocabulary, Resources
Develop/locate assessments and
cornerstone tasks for each unit
Phase II and III WorkFuture Work: Align TEKS to AP standards, Identify high-
yield strategies and structures for each unit, develop/locate exemplar
lessons/activities
1. Common Syllabus
- For courses that are being redesigned (AP Spanish Lit and Chemistry), this will not be done until after APSI
- All other courses: hash this out today, make plan for completion date
- We want to submit syllabi as soon as window opens June 1
2.Standards and Strands Word document
3.Align standards to syllabus Which standards go where in the syllabus?
4.Scope and Sequence Word document template
5.Clarifying Documents Word document template
Tasks for the Day
Tracey and Crysten will be available to each team throughout the day