AP is Advanced Placement.
More rigor, higher expectations, and deeper content. It’s often said that public science education is a mile wide and an inch deep. In other words, that we cover a lot of material but don’t cover any of it in depth. AP changes that, to a degree.
We will look more deeply at content than in an on-level class, though there are still many aspects that will go untouched. This means, as with most things in life, that what we cover will be more complex, more detailed, and require higher cognitive demand.
AP sounds scary.
Many students are terrified of AP classes. Especially science ones, and doubly so for AP Physics! (AP Environmental is not as scary)
Know that passing the AP exam is not the only metric for success in this class. Your personal growth is what matters. Will you leave the class with a richer understanding of scientific processes? Will you be better at understanding graphs and data management in May than in October? Will you understand even a little bit more about the physical world around you and the interacting systems that drive our world?
If the answer is “yes” to any of those, then your time will have been well spent, regardless of your official grades.
I have no life, you are my life!
Rest assured, I am here to help all my students succeed, and I dedicate myself to being available. By email, zoom, discord, text message, or in person, whatever help you need I will make time for it.
Studies show just by taking an AP science class, students perform better in college. For students who take AP classes: GPA’s go up, drop out rates go down, and graduation rates increase. Stick with it, do not get discouraged, and seek help when you need it! It will be worth it.
The mathematical component of AP classes (especially physics) can be intimidating to many students. It is worth the struggle, however. Again, studies show, being introduced to more rigorous math in HS translates into better success in college and beyond. For students thinking of pursuing a career in engineering, medical fields, or other STEM pathways, this is an especially pertinent point.
Whatever your goals, I am here to make your AP science journey a success. Please do not hesitate to email, call, or come by any time with questions, concerns, or comments.
Mr. Chandler
“Mathematical fluency is the single best predictor of college performance in biology, chemistry, and physics, giving a strong advantage to students whose high school science courses integrate mathematics. “Draining the math out of high school coursework does students a disservice,” Sadler, Harvard researcher says. “Much of college biology, chemistry, and physics are taught using the language of math, so students without fluency quickly become lost.”