[neact] Re: AP Chemistry

Hi Mel,

What a great question for this listserve.  As a teacher in one of those schools 
which offers AP chem in lieu of honors (and does not have a second year option) 
I would also like to address the question.  We still get a VERY high number of 
students who sign up for the AP class.  (Last year we had 6 sections - our 
school size is about 1900).  Certainly there are students who are not served by 
this system.  There are many kids who are not ready to take AP the first time 
they see Chemistry, yet find that they really enjoy it and are not given the 
opportunity to take a second year.  Those that take the AP are required to work 
very hard - they are given summer assignments, and chapters to learn on their 
own over each break.  Since the AP comes in May, we only have 8 months to teach 
what is basically two years worth of chemistry.  It can be quite overwhelming 
for some kids.  However, most do well in class and do well on the AP.  It does 
give them the opportunity to take AP levels in three different sciences which 
would not be possible otherwise (They take AP bio in 10th grade, and AP physics 
in 12th).  

This system certainly has its faults and the stress placed on the kids (often 
which they put on themselves) is probably the biggest.  The second biggest is 
the question of retention - but I wonder about that at every level.  There is a 
lot of lecturing involved and not as much discovery learning...  But - I will 
say that even with this, there is always time to fit things in.  The kids each 
do an independent science fair project, (which truthfully also adds to the 
stress) and I find that I can usually find time to fit in a fun lab, or make 
connections that are not part of the AP curriculum.  The time period after the 
AP exam is actually really fun.  We have more than a month of school and we 
have already "covered" everything, so that is when we do some really involved 
labs, or try to make connections in more non-traditional ways.

I have never taught AP chemistry as a second year course, so I can't compare, 
but I imagine it has many advantages.  Many students in my school however, feel 
that the opportunity to take so many science classes at such an advanced level 
is worth the stress and many go on to major in science.

Jerusha Vogel
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Meledath Govindan 
  To: neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 12:18 PM
  Subject: [neact] AP Chemistry


  Dear Colleagues,



  Perhaps you can enlighten me regarding my question about AP Chemistry.  I was 
of the impression that AP chemistry is generally taught after the students have 
taken a year of chemistry.  Is this true?  I know at least one school system 
where AP Chemistry is taught in lieu of an Honors Chemistry and students have 
been struggling.  As a result, not many are signing up for that course and 
dropping down to the next level, where they (otherwise honors students) are not 
being challenged.  I would appreciate receiving some feedback from my HS 
chemistry colleagues.  Thanks.



  Mel



  Meledath Govindan, Ph.D.

  Professor of Chemistry

  Fitchburg State College

  160 Pearl St. 

  Fitchburg, MA 01420

  (978)-665-3628 (Office)

  (978)-665-3578 (FAX)

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