Stress that mistakes and revisions are how people learn, not signs that they do not belong
Students who have been historically marginalized or students who may have never considered an AP class may take mistakes, feedback, or not getting something on the first try as a sign that they don’t belong. By explicitly letting students know this is untrue, teachers can quiet the negative voices their students may experience and show them that they belong in AP.
We suggest implementing these strategies:
Explore Student Experiences Throughout the School Year
Click on each critical period to explore student experiences.
Strong Start
August/September
Keeping Up
November/December
Midterm Reset
January/February
Exam Prep
March/April
Due to varying school schedules and contexts, the exact timing of the critical periods will differ by school and even by class. The months provided are a guide for where teachers should be looking for experiences based on time of year.