My greatest challenge about starting an AP program at my school is growing it. I have spoken to students about the program, and a lot are excited to be able to have this opportunity. My school is low poverty school. We have a few AP classes that are offered, attendance in these classes is usually small. This program though will not only help promote the arts in my area but also help more students be interested in the NAHS. Overall more than anything I am just excited to be able to start this and within the next few years see the Art program grow.
I agree, it is very exciting to be a part of a growing art program. Most teachers just show up and art told what to do, but we actually get to help develop what and how we will be teaching! Best of luck to you and your program!!!
I agree with Danielle, starting a new class at the school is exciting. AP art will also be a new opportunity for students at my school. I began rebuilding an art program at my school when I came there two years ago because the last teacher had no structure to his classes and all the levels worked on the same assignment. Rigor in art was a new concept for most students. They did not have to turn in their work before to receive an A. They are now working on different assignments based on their level and are being graded with rubrics.
I am the same concerns about growing an advanced program and making it successful. It also will be good to have a smaller class size, and you will be able to give more to the each student, without spreading yourself too thin.
I too have some of the same concerns with growing the AP program at my school. I currently only have one student signed up to take the class this coming school year. With us, there are a lot of other classes as well as other AP classes that are offered and it's hard for some students to decide which classes they really want to take.
I have a similar issue at my school as well. My school offers a diverse amount of AP classes and it's hard for students to decide between taking them and AP art which can conflict. I had an incredibly talented and dedicated student in Honors this year who would be perfect for AP, but she's taking almost exclusively AP classes next year and just can't add another. It's definitely a challenge to grow the program, especially when you're the only art teacher at your school and can't afford to offer it as a separate section.
My school already has a strong established AP Program with an amazing AP teacher. My school has four art teachers and we are a growing school. My main concern is preparing the students for AP. I do not foresee me actually teaching AP anytime soon but I help the students that feed into AP and i want to better prepare them for this course. I teach upper level art courses and the majority of the students enrolled have intentions on taking AP. If i could become familiar with AP i think it would help my students and help me become a better teacher.
Alicia, like you, we have a strong established AP Program and 6 instructors. I usually teach the beginning students and having the training will certainly help both of us as we prepare students to move on to advanced level classes. Helping students begin to develop a concentration in their body of art is a valuable skill as a teacher and the training will help guide us through the process.
Our school also has an established AP program. We have 4 art teachers (3 of us will be AP certified). We offer AP studio and AP Art History. Our hopes is that we can become more specialized for our students. Each teacher will be able to bring their particular talents to pair with the particular talents of our students. We believe that students will create a more developed body of work. I also agree that it helps both teachers and students if teachers can keep the end or long term goal in mind. Teachers that teach entry level classes are pivotal in the building of a program and knowing where students are headed helps prepare students for advanced work.
I think it's wonderful that you are taking this and trying to assist students with becoming ready for AP. There is so much, course-wise, students get into that they end up not being able to handle. It's great they have you to prepare them for AP!!
I think after teaching AP Studio this year for the first time, that you are spot on, you need to help them prepare. I am fortunate and only taught it to my photo students that I had already taught for 2 semesters so I knew the kids and their style well. Looking at my beginner and advanced classes now, I need to think of it more as a preparation for AP for my students to be more successful. I think this will help with enrollment and growing the program.
My greatest concern about having an AP program at my school is that I am going to be the only AP certified art teacher. There are only two art teachers at my school and I also teach 4 other art subjects. My AP students will not have a class of their own, but they will be lumped in with other non-advanced classes. My biggest fear is that my AP students' portfolios will suffer because my time and attention are stretched so thin. However with the lack of teachers, this is the only way that my students will have the opportunity to do AP art.
This sounds like a great challenge and balancing act for you. Setting up a schedule to balance both sets of students at once will most likely be beneficial to you and your students. Maybe you can empower your AP students to create their own schedules for completing each project and meet with them individually to come up with a plan. They could create a schedule for Breadth and one for Concentration – listing their concepts, media, and size for each. This will give them confidence in their direction and also help you keep them on track. You could plan to meet with them in a group to go over their progress at certain intervals, while providing necessary direction as needed. You will figure this out – you can do it!
This was my first year teaching AP Studio and I had 5 of them (photo concentrated) with 14 Advanced Photos students. It was a very busy class, but the amount of creativity that flowed and pushed each other was amazing. And when it was time for portfolios to be finalized I thought I would lose my mind, but I don't think the 5 students would have been pushed as hard. Also it helps for recruitment for next year's program.
It can be a struggle to work with a combined class. You don't want any students to feel neglected and ultimately the lower levels demand more hands-on attention. We have combined classes at our school and it actually can be very beneficial. Lower level students see what upper levels are doing and get excited about moving forward. Advanced students get to be "stars" and learn some independence. It is a balancing act but when done successfully it can help build your program.
Chris I have encountered this also. I has to do combined classes and I always felt like I was neglecting someone. it all worked out in the end but I'm always left questioning did I give the best that I had?
The challenge of AP is keeping all of our AP students on track to be prepared for spring semester. We have 30 AP students for next year so managing the group can be difficult. We have set deadlines for each step of the way but students still manage to wait to the last minute to upload work. Another challenge is matting all the work and getting everything ready to ship. It can be a stressful time for 2D and Drawing portfolios.
Next year will be my first year teaching art, and I am starting at a school with an exceptional AP art program in place. I look forward to learning from the current AP teacher and will utilize this course to help me prepare my own students for their future AP art classes. Although I may not teach AP for some time, I look forward to helping the AP teacher grow her program by challenging my students and setting high expectations for them. I want to intrigue them and develop them conceptually as well as technically. Teaching them time management and holding them accountable for deadlines will also help them succeed in AP due to the large body of work they have to create. By hooking students early in their art experience, students will gain confidence in their skills and the AP program will continue to thrive and grow. As the program grows and I gain teaching experience, I do look forward to teaching AP art in the future.
I am not teaching at the high school level; however, when I do accept a high school position my major concern for the AP program is helping the students meet their goals and deadlines. I remember how stressed I was trying to complete works for my senior show in college. I had to learn quickly how to juggle my studio time and other classes. Taking time to plan an organize has save me countless hours. It allowed me to enjoy the stress of putting on an art show. I want my students to enjoy making art not burn themselves out.
My biggest concern about starting an AP art program at my school is that I am split between the middle and high school. I have two high school classes first semester and one high school class second semester. High school is on a block schedule. AP students would have to be mixed with Art I, Art II, and Art III students in the current set up. I would not be able to devote as much time to the AP students when I have to teach Art I students lessons on basic elements and principles of art. I will be the only AP art certified teacher in my district. My principal mentioned last year that the superintendent is considering turning my schools into Arts and Technology magnet schools. I am hoping that if this happens, more students in the other schools will have an interest in art and a teacher could be hired full-time for the middle school so that we would have one teacher at each school.
I interned at a school that had to teach AP in an Art 1 class. The teacher and students had a system set up where most of their communication and feedback happened outside of class. They would use their sketchbooks and they had the plastic schedules they would both write on and erase as necessary. The students had to be super independent and hardworking but they made it work. I am sure you will be able to figure something out that will work for you!
We already have a strong AP art program in place at Northwestern. However, we only have one teacher out of 4 teaching the AP classes and we are hoping to build the program up enough so that two teachers will teach them. Our goal is to have one class routed for 2-d and the other class 3-d. My concern is getting students to the point where they are coming up with good ideas, but also managing all those materials and storage of the work (I would take the 3-d AP class). But the good thing is that I think that will be a few years away, and we could work out a plan to solve those problems. For now, I am excited to be able to help students through the program and be able to guide them in the best directions for their talents and skill set.
Well, I’m currently at 2 elementary schools, so I’m not quite in that predicament at the moment, but I would imagine it would be maintaining it. Keeping the interest is critical at every level. Positive encouragement is key!
I have fears/concerns about continuing the program at the school I'm moving to. The teacher before me was a good teacher, but I believe the program could be much bigger than it currently is. I did my internship under her, and she only had a handful of AP students. The school is a very academic school, and the parent involvement is very high, and the students' talents were impressive while I was there. I feel like all the variables are in place to grow it further. I think I'm just nervous about presenting the students with exact information they need, and also having questions myself along the way. I really feel this class is already such an assistance. Reading all of these comments, and everything I took in at the museum has already built my confidence up above where it was when I took this position.
The fact that your confidence is already starting to build is great. When I first started teaching, I replaced an exceptional teacher who started the program and the kids adored her. It was already a very big program and I knew that I had to keep those kids without their mentor being there. I took a lot of what she did and didn't try to change much that first year. As the years progressed, I learned what to change and how to change it. I was able to grow the program to an even larger scale over ten years.
My school has a well established AP program with an exceptional teacher already in place. My photography program is growing rapidly and we are beginning to see more and more 2D portfolios that feature photography. I hope to someday teach our talented AP students but in the mean time I feel like it is important for me to educate myself on the AP portfolio process. The more I know and experience the more I will be able to aid in their success.
I am in the same position, although our AP program isn't as well established. My coworker is already certified and teaches the AP 2d course, and I know it will probably be a few years before I am able to take on a section of AP (hopefully drawing) as we are still working to grow our numbers and our program. I try to help with his AP students as much as possible, and I really enjoyed helping them put their portfolios together this year, so I figured now is the time to get certified so that I can be even more helpful next year, even if I don't have a section of my own.
AP is well established at my school because we all work together to get the students the help they need. Being actively involved with all kids in the department is pivotal to keep the momentum moving forward within the department.
Im in a similar position as well. Our AP program is already established. I have seen the AP program from the outside for quite some time now but I really feel that I need a more in depth understanding of the AP process and exactly how to curate my photo students work in order to fulfill the AP requirements in a way that will lead to strong portfolios.
I am switching from teaching drama to teaching art. I have never taught in a regular art classroom so the though of teaching an AP art class scares me to death. I still have so much to learn before I am ready to take on this endeavor. I was involved in theatre in some capacity from the moment I could speak. So, when I began my teaching career, I knew my subject matter. I also was in my early 20's and I thought I was somewhat invincible. I didn't pick up a paintbrush until I was 30. How in the world will I teach those who know more than I do and might have a whole lot more talent than me? I am so passionate about art and no doubt will continue to take classes and work in my studio in order to learn my craft so that I can eventually teach an AP class. I am excited about everything that this master's class will teach me!
My biggest concern right now is similar to most- growing the program from the bottom up so that we can have a strong AP group every year. I am one of two art teachers at my school, and it has only been 4 years since we were a one art teacher school. Before my coworker Adam Burgess came here in 2013 our school did not even offer AP art. We have both worked very hard to strengthen the program and grow our numbers as much as possible- even if it means taking on extra sections of Art 1 when we both would rather be teaching upper levels. Our problem now lies in how quickly our community is growing. Our building is barely 10 years old and is already at capacity, and will need an addition or portables in the next few years, and based on our numbers we should have three art teachers. We are trying to grow our program as best we can with just the two of us, even if it means taking on larger than desired class sizes. This year my Adam had 5 AP Design students, and next year he will have 3. He has to teach that class in combination with Art 3 Honors because we don't have the room in our schedules to dedicate a whole class period to just a hand full of students. We are hoping that over the next couple of years those numbers will grow, and that I will be able to take on a section of AP Drawing. For now I am happy to assist with his AP students in any way that I can, and I have enjoyed learning the ins and outs of AP from him these past two years.
I agree with what you are saying! Us teachers who are teaching AP for the first time as a program at our schools need to work collaboratively to talk about what is working/not working too! How many students do you have signing up for your AP program? I am looking at around 7, right now. I am worried too because I just saw my schedule and there is a student who struggled in my Art 3 class, who was placed in AP.
I agree! I feel like someone mentioned today about a site with FAQ's for AP teachers, not sure where it was though? Anyone remember? It'd be a massive help to be able to form a network of us.
This upcoming school year is the 6th year that our school has been open. The AP teacher that has been with the school since it opened has just retired and I am going to be taking over the program. My biggest concern right now is continuing where the last AP teacher left off and to continue to help it grow. I know that I have some big shoes to fill and I'm hoping to learn as much as I possibly can through this class to help me feel confident in giving students as much guidance and help as possible. Another concern with our school is that it's extremely difficult for students to want to continue taking more art classes after they have had their necessary art credits. Currently, I only have 1 student who is signed up for AP studio art next year. This is the smallest class size the school has faced thus far for this course. I have been trying to encourage other students to take the class but with conflicting schedules, or fear of failing the portfolio, it's tough to try to convince them to take a chance. I am willing to work with the student that I do have and to give them as much feedback and encouragement as possible.
I know scheduling conflicts make it hard to take some classes. If your classes will be that small, it would be mixed with other students of a different level. I would encourage students to take the AP class even if they are afraid. As long as they work hard, the class with help boost their high school GPA and help them feel more prepared for college art classes even if they do not get a passing score on their portfolio.
My biggest concern is that I will be the only AP certified teacher of the four of us. I would like to have more opportunity for the painting, drawing, and ceramic students. I also think we need to look at the art program to help prepare students for AP level especially after Art 1. I think this may help student push themselves to work harder on their projects. I think this will help with enrollment and growing the program.
I agree I'm not sure how many teachers at my new school art AP cerified and it would bother me to be the only one that is especially since I will be at a new school.
I teach middle school, and I am in the process of trying to establish my art honors class or art I class. My school is in a rural area with and is title 1. Funds for the advanced class is a main concern for me, because I only get around 100 to start the year with plus the 250-275 all teachers get. I will have to do major fundraising to get simple supplies. I also fear that I won't get enough students who want to take it seriously and will want to take the class. I feel that I will want to move to the high school level once I have a solid program for my middle school students, and the next teacher will be able to continue the program successfully.
My school already has a strong AP program with two amazing teachers who are already AP Certified. One teaches AP Photo and AP 3D while the other teacher teaches AP 2D (focus on traditional 2D medium painting, drawing, printmaking, ect...). I will be taking over the AP Photo and some AP 2D based in digital art. My greatest concern/challenge is coming up with really strong projects to make sure student portfolios are in depth and impressive. I worry about my photo students feeling like they can just turn in cliche photography and not really push themselves. As for my Media Arts students who will be doing a significant amount of digital work I worry about how these non traditional mediums will score in a portfolio.
I agree with many of your points. Your school does have an amazing AP Program. You are also blessed to work with two amazing teachers. You will be a strong addition to your AP Program. I also interested in how to non traditional mediums score.
My fear is starting an AP program and continuing the program throughout the following years. I do not have any experience in this also which is also nerve racking. Although being pushed out of my comfort zones is definitely happening in full force the coming school year. I know that with the more experience I have and the more familiar I become, I will be able to successfully run an AP art program at my school.
I am excited to bring an AP program to my school. The challenge is just setting up the program, filling it with great content that helps those aspiring artist to the next level. I know that at first the enrollment would be small and my school has a rule, its 15 students of the class gets canceled. I have finally established advance 3-d and building that program was exciting also. I really look forward to starting the AP classes.
I have several fears about teaching AP next year. My biggest fear is that I won't be able to manage all the demands of AP while going through my SAFE-T evaluations and adjusting to a new principal, in my third year of teaching. I'm also worried for my students. I did AP and I know how time consuming it is. My two AP hopefuls are taking several other AP classes next year and editing the yearbook. It's going to be a demanding year for them. My two students will be combined into the Honors class, so I'm worried I won't be able to give them the attention they need also.
My greatest concern about continuing an AP Program at my school is funding. It is a great program and a great opportunity for students. Unfortunately, I believe the fine arts AP Programs are underfunded.
My greatest challenge about starting an AP program at my school is growing it. I have spoken to students about the program, and a lot are excited to be able to have this opportunity. My school is low poverty school. We have a few AP classes that are offered, attendance in these classes is usually small. This program though will not only help promote the arts in my area but also help more students be interested in the NAHS. Overall more than anything I am just excited to be able to start this and within the next few years see the Art program grow.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is very exciting to be a part of a growing art program. Most teachers just show up and art told what to do, but we actually get to help develop what and how we will be teaching! Best of luck to you and your program!!!
DeleteYou have an amazing opportunity to start a program and watch it grow.
DeleteI agree with Danielle, starting a new class at the school is exciting. AP art will also be a new opportunity for students at my school. I began rebuilding an art program at my school when I came there two years ago because the last teacher had no structure to his classes and all the levels worked on the same assignment. Rigor in art was a new concept for most students. They did not have to turn in their work before to receive an A. They are now working on different assignments based on their level and are being graded with rubrics.
DeleteI am the same concerns about growing an advanced program and making it successful. It also will be good to have a smaller class size, and you will be able to give more to the each student, without spreading yourself too thin.
DeleteI too have some of the same concerns with growing the AP program at my school. I currently only have one student signed up to take the class this coming school year. With us, there are a lot of other classes as well as other AP classes that are offered and it's hard for some students to decide which classes they really want to take.
DeleteI have a similar issue at my school as well. My school offers a diverse amount of AP classes and it's hard for students to decide between taking them and AP art which can conflict. I had an incredibly talented and dedicated student in Honors this year who would be perfect for AP, but she's taking almost exclusively AP classes next year and just can't add another. It's definitely a challenge to grow the program, especially when you're the only art teacher at your school and can't afford to offer it as a separate section.
DeleteMy school already has a strong established AP Program with an amazing AP teacher. My school has four art teachers and we are a growing school. My main concern is preparing the students for AP. I do not foresee me actually teaching AP anytime soon but I help the students that feed into AP and i want to better prepare them for this course. I teach upper level art courses and the majority of the students enrolled have intentions on taking AP. If i could become familiar with AP i think it would help my students and help me become a better teacher.
ReplyDeleteAlicia, like you, we have a strong established AP Program and 6 instructors. I usually teach the beginning students and having the training will certainly help both of us as we prepare students to move on to advanced level classes. Helping students begin to develop a concentration in their body of art is a valuable skill as a teacher and the training will help guide us through the process.
DeleteOur school also has an established AP program. We have 4 art teachers (3 of us will be AP certified). We offer AP studio and AP Art History. Our hopes is that we can become more specialized for our students. Each teacher will be able to bring their particular talents to pair with the particular talents of our students. We believe that students will create a more developed body of work.
DeleteI also agree that it helps both teachers and students if teachers can keep the end or long term goal in mind. Teachers that teach entry level classes are pivotal in the building of a program and knowing where students are headed helps prepare students for advanced work.
I think it's wonderful that you are taking this and trying to assist students with becoming ready for AP. There is so much, course-wise, students get into that they end up not being able to handle. It's great they have you to prepare them for AP!!
DeleteI think after teaching AP Studio this year for the first time, that you are spot on, you need to help them prepare. I am fortunate and only taught it to my photo students that I had already taught for 2 semesters so I knew the kids and their style well. Looking at my beginner and advanced classes now, I need to think of it more as a preparation for AP for my students to be more successful. I think this will help with enrollment and growing the program.
DeleteMy greatest concern about having an AP program at my school is that I am going to be the only AP certified art teacher. There are only two art teachers at my school and I also teach 4 other art subjects. My AP students will not have a class of their own, but they will be lumped in with other non-advanced classes. My biggest fear is that my AP students' portfolios will suffer because my time and attention are stretched so thin. However with the lack of teachers, this is the only way that my students will have the opportunity to do AP art.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great challenge and balancing act for you. Setting up a schedule to balance both sets of students at once will most likely be beneficial to you and your students. Maybe you can empower your AP students to create their own schedules for completing each project and meet with them individually to come up with a plan. They could create a schedule for Breadth and one for Concentration – listing their concepts, media, and size for each. This will give them confidence in their direction and also help you keep them on track. You could plan to meet with them in a group to go over their progress at certain intervals, while providing necessary direction as needed. You will figure this out – you can do it!
DeleteThis was my first year teaching AP Studio and I had 5 of them (photo concentrated) with 14 Advanced Photos students. It was a very busy class, but the amount of creativity that flowed and pushed each other was amazing. And when it was time for portfolios to be finalized I thought I would lose my mind, but I don't think the 5 students would have been pushed as hard. Also it helps for recruitment for next year's program.
DeleteIt can be a struggle to work with a combined class. You don't want any students to feel neglected and ultimately the lower levels demand more hands-on attention. We have combined classes at our school and it actually can be very beneficial. Lower level students see what upper levels are doing and get excited about moving forward. Advanced students get to be "stars" and learn some independence. It is a balancing act but when done successfully it can help build your program.
DeleteChris I have encountered this also. I has to do combined classes and I always felt like I was neglecting someone. it all worked out in the end but I'm always left questioning did I give the best that I had?
DeleteThe challenge of AP is keeping all of our AP students on track to be prepared for spring semester. We have 30 AP students for next year so managing the group can be difficult. We have set deadlines for each step of the way but students still manage to wait to the last minute to upload work. Another challenge is matting all the work and getting everything ready to ship. It can be a stressful time for 2D and Drawing portfolios.
ReplyDeleteNext year will be my first year teaching art, and I am starting at a school with an exceptional AP art program in place. I look forward to learning from the current AP teacher and will utilize this course to help me prepare my own students for their future AP art classes. Although I may not teach AP for some time, I look forward to helping the AP teacher grow her program by challenging my students and setting high expectations for them. I want to intrigue them and develop them conceptually as well as technically. Teaching them time management and holding them accountable for deadlines will also help them succeed in AP due to the large body of work they have to create. By hooking students early in their art experience, students will gain confidence in their skills and the AP program will continue to thrive and grow. As the program grows and I gain teaching experience, I do look forward to teaching AP art in the future.
ReplyDeleteI am not teaching at the high school level; however, when I do accept a high school position my major concern for the AP program is helping the students meet their goals and deadlines. I remember how stressed I was trying to complete works for my senior show in college. I had to learn quickly how to juggle my studio time and other classes. Taking time to plan an organize has save me countless hours. It allowed me to enjoy the stress of putting on an art show. I want my students to enjoy making art not burn themselves out.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest concern about starting an AP art program at my school is that I am split between the middle and high school. I have two high school classes first semester and one high school class second semester. High school is on a block schedule. AP students would have to be mixed with Art I, Art II, and Art III students in the current set up. I would not be able to devote as much time to the AP students when I have to teach Art I students lessons on basic elements and principles of art. I will be the only AP art certified teacher in my district. My principal mentioned last year that the superintendent is considering turning my schools into Arts and Technology magnet schools. I am hoping that if this happens, more students in the other schools will have an interest in art and a teacher could be hired full-time for the middle school so that we would have one teacher at each school.
ReplyDeleteI interned at a school that had to teach AP in an Art 1 class. The teacher and students had a system set up where most of their communication and feedback happened outside of class. They would use their sketchbooks and they had the plastic schedules they would both write on and erase as necessary. The students had to be super independent and hardworking but they made it work. I am sure you will be able to figure something out that will work for you!
DeleteWe already have a strong AP art program in place at Northwestern. However, we only have one teacher out of 4 teaching the AP classes and we are hoping to build the program up enough so that two teachers will teach them. Our goal is to have one class routed for 2-d and the other class 3-d. My concern is getting students to the point where they are coming up with good ideas, but also managing all those materials and storage of the work (I would take the 3-d AP class). But the good thing is that I think that will be a few years away, and we could work out a plan to solve those problems. For now, I am excited to be able to help students through the program and be able to guide them in the best directions for their talents and skill set.
ReplyDeleteWe also have a strong AP program in place and it is growing rapidly! I hope that in the future we will be able to host a class for each portfolio.
DeleteWell, I’m currently at 2 elementary schools, so I’m not quite in that predicament at the moment, but I would imagine it would be maintaining it. Keeping the interest is critical at every level. Positive encouragement is key!
ReplyDeleteI have fears/concerns about continuing the program at the school I'm moving to. The teacher before me was a good teacher, but I believe the program could be much bigger than it currently is. I did my internship under her, and she only had a handful of AP students. The school is a very academic school, and the parent involvement is very high, and the students' talents were impressive while I was there. I feel like all the variables are in place to grow it further. I think I'm just nervous about presenting the students with exact information they need, and also having questions myself along the way. I really feel this class is already such an assistance. Reading all of these comments, and everything I took in at the museum has already built my confidence up above where it was when I took this position.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that your confidence is already starting to build is great. When I first started teaching, I replaced an exceptional teacher who started the program and the kids adored her. It was already a very big program and I knew that I had to keep those kids without their mentor being there. I took a lot of what she did and didn't try to change much that first year. As the years progressed, I learned what to change and how to change it. I was able to grow the program to an even larger scale over ten years.
DeleteMy school has a well established AP program with an exceptional teacher already in place. My photography program is growing rapidly and we are beginning to see more and more 2D portfolios that feature photography. I hope to someday teach our talented AP students but in the mean time I feel like it is important for me to educate myself on the AP portfolio process. The more I know and experience the more I will be able to aid in their success.
ReplyDeleteI am in the same position, although our AP program isn't as well established. My coworker is already certified and teaches the AP 2d course, and I know it will probably be a few years before I am able to take on a section of AP (hopefully drawing) as we are still working to grow our numbers and our program. I try to help with his AP students as much as possible, and I really enjoyed helping them put their portfolios together this year, so I figured now is the time to get certified so that I can be even more helpful next year, even if I don't have a section of my own.
DeleteAP is well established at my school because we all work together to get the students the help they need. Being actively involved with all kids in the department is pivotal to keep the momentum moving forward within the department.
DeleteIm in a similar position as well. Our AP program is already established. I have seen the AP program from the outside for quite some time now but I really feel that I need a more in depth understanding of the AP process and exactly how to curate my photo students work in order to fulfill the AP requirements in a way that will lead to strong portfolios.
DeleteI am switching from teaching drama to teaching art. I have never taught in a regular art classroom so the though of teaching an AP art class scares me to death. I still have so much to learn before I am ready to take on this endeavor. I was involved in theatre in some capacity from the moment I could speak. So, when I began my teaching career, I knew my subject matter. I also was in my early 20's and I thought I was somewhat invincible. I didn't pick up a paintbrush until I was 30. How in the world will I teach those who know more than I do and might have a whole lot more talent than me? I am so passionate about art and no doubt will continue to take classes and work in my studio in order to learn my craft so that I can eventually teach an AP class. I am excited about everything that this master's class will teach me!
ReplyDeleteMy biggest concern right now is similar to most- growing the program from the bottom up so that we can have a strong AP group every year. I am one of two art teachers at my school, and it has only been 4 years since we were a one art teacher school. Before my coworker Adam Burgess came here in 2013 our school did not even offer AP art. We have both worked very hard to strengthen the program and grow our numbers as much as possible- even if it means taking on extra sections of Art 1 when we both would rather be teaching upper levels. Our problem now lies in how quickly our community is growing. Our building is barely 10 years old and is already at capacity, and will need an addition or portables in the next few years, and based on our numbers we should have three art teachers. We are trying to grow our program as best we can with just the two of us, even if it means taking on larger than desired class sizes. This year my Adam had 5 AP Design students, and next year he will have 3. He has to teach that class in combination with Art 3 Honors because we don't have the room in our schedules to dedicate a whole class period to just a hand full of students. We are hoping that over the next couple of years those numbers will grow, and that I will be able to take on a section of AP Drawing. For now I am happy to assist with his AP students in any way that I can, and I have enjoyed learning the ins and outs of AP from him these past two years.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying! Us teachers who are teaching AP for the first time as a program at our schools need to work collaboratively to talk about what is working/not working too! How many students do you have signing up for your AP program? I am looking at around 7, right now. I am worried too because I just saw my schedule and there is a student who struggled in my Art 3 class, who was placed in AP.
DeleteI agree! I feel like someone mentioned today about a site with FAQ's for AP teachers, not sure where it was though? Anyone remember? It'd be a massive help to be able to form a network of us.
DeleteThis upcoming school year is the 6th year that our school has been open. The AP teacher that has been with the school since it opened has just retired and I am going to be taking over the program. My biggest concern right now is continuing where the last AP teacher left off and to continue to help it grow. I know that I have some big shoes to fill and I'm hoping to learn as much as I possibly can through this class to help me feel confident in giving students as much guidance and help as possible. Another concern with our school is that it's extremely difficult for students to want to continue taking more art classes after they have had their necessary art credits. Currently, I only have 1 student who is signed up for AP studio art next year. This is the smallest class size the school has faced thus far for this course. I have been trying to encourage other students to take the class but with conflicting schedules, or fear of failing the portfolio, it's tough to try to convince them to take a chance. I am willing to work with the student that I do have and to give them as much feedback and encouragement as possible.
ReplyDeleteI know scheduling conflicts make it hard to take some classes. If your classes will be that small, it would be mixed with other students of a different level. I would encourage students to take the AP class even if they are afraid. As long as they work hard, the class with help boost their high school GPA and help them feel more prepared for college art classes even if they do not get a passing score on their portfolio.
DeleteMy biggest concern is that I will be the only AP certified teacher of the four of us. I would like to have more opportunity for the painting, drawing, and ceramic students. I also think we need to look at the art program to help prepare students for AP level especially after Art 1. I think this may help student push themselves to work harder on their projects. I think this will help with enrollment and growing the program.
ReplyDeleteI can see that being a concern. I think starting early to get students prepare is a great idea. Hopefully the other teachers will be eager to help
DeleteI agree I'm not sure how many teachers at my new school art AP cerified and it would bother me to be the only one that is especially since I will be at a new school.
DeleteI teach middle school, and I am in the process of trying to establish my art honors class or art I class. My school is in a rural area with and is title 1. Funds for the advanced class is a main concern for me, because I only get around 100 to start the year with plus the 250-275 all teachers get. I will have to do major fundraising to get simple supplies. I also fear that I won't get enough students who want to take it seriously and will want to take the class. I feel that I will want to move to the high school level once I have a solid program for my middle school students, and the next teacher will be able to continue the program successfully.
ReplyDeleteMy school already has a strong AP program with two amazing teachers who are already AP Certified. One teaches AP Photo and AP 3D while the other teacher teaches AP 2D (focus on traditional 2D medium painting, drawing, printmaking, ect...). I will be taking over the AP Photo and some AP 2D based in digital art. My greatest concern/challenge is coming up with really strong projects to make sure student portfolios are in depth and impressive. I worry about my photo students feeling like they can just turn in cliche photography and not really push themselves. As for my Media Arts students who will be doing a significant amount of digital work I worry about how these non traditional mediums will score in a portfolio.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of your points. Your school does have an amazing AP Program. You are also blessed to work with two amazing teachers. You will be a strong addition to your AP Program. I also interested in how to non traditional mediums score.
DeleteMy fear is starting an AP program and continuing the program throughout the following years. I do not have any experience in this also which is also nerve racking. Although being pushed out of my comfort zones is definitely happening in full force the coming school year. I know that with the more experience I have and the more familiar I become, I will be able to successfully run an AP art program at my school.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to bring an AP program to my school. The challenge is just setting up the program, filling it with great content that helps those aspiring artist to the next level. I know that at first the enrollment would be small and my school has a rule, its 15 students of the class gets canceled. I have finally established advance 3-d and building that program was exciting also. I really look forward to starting the AP classes.
ReplyDeleteI have several fears about teaching AP next year. My biggest fear is that I won't be able to manage all the demands of AP while going through my SAFE-T evaluations and adjusting to a new principal, in my third year of teaching. I'm also worried for my students. I did AP and I know how time consuming it is. My two AP hopefuls are taking several other AP classes next year and editing the yearbook. It's going to be a demanding year for them. My two students will be combined into the Honors class, so I'm worried I won't be able to give them the attention they need also.
ReplyDeleteMy greatest concern about continuing an AP Program at my school is funding. It is a great program and a great opportunity for students. Unfortunately, I believe the fine arts AP Programs are underfunded.
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