I write this as I muse upon last night's Mosaic professional development session with David Miller. Like the rest of the crowd, I found David's message and way of speaking calming and invigorating at the same time. The presentation had a profound effect on me, breaking through the barrier that had ...
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Rigor & Accessibility: Reducing Heavy Student Workloads in AP Lit
This is my fifth installment in a series on representation in AP* Lit, both in authors and in students. If AP® classes remove their systems of gatekeeping (which they should), teachers will need to prepare to have more types of learners in their classes. We cannot assume that each of our students ...
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12 Engaging and Rigorous Books for Reluctant Readers
If AP* English Literature is going to become a course where all learners are welcome, then some of us may need to find more engaging and rigorous books. As of now, here are the most frequently-cited books on the AP® English Lit exam:
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (published 1952, Lexile level ...
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The First Few Weeks: Differentiation & Work Ethic in AP Lit
This article is the third in a blog series focused on inclusivity in AP* English Literature. This week's installment will focus on differentiation your instruction to reach all levels of learners in AP® Lit. In high achieving schools, AP® classes are often reserved for only top level learners. ...
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Expanding the Canon in AP Literature
BIPOC, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Native American, and world authors are not new to the scene. They are not "trendy." They've been around for ages. Unfortunately, many teachers (myself included) have not been concerned enough over their representation in the literary canon or the AP* Lit ...
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4 Quick Questions to Determine if a Book is “AP-Worthy”
Before you read this, it's important to know something: this is not a post about the canon. Or, maybe it is. What I mean is, this is not a discussion of books being "AP-worthy"® because they're considered literary "classics." Frankly, I'm sick of the canon and all it represents. I'm not going to ...
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