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EUROPEAN HISTORY

The AP European History workshop is designed to help both new and experienced teachers address some of the key challenges of the course: coverage of the content, development of critical thinking skills, success on the AP test, and stimulating student engagement. We will also examine the Document Based Essay and Free Response Essays in terms of strategies, the College Board scoring rubric, and the analysis of actual student papers. Participants will be asked to bring some of their best practices (lessons, resources, unit plans, books, films, and syllabi) for sharing and discussion with the group. The instructor will provide a thumb drive of hundreds of files, including assignments, tests, projects, and strategies. We will also review upcoming changes to the AP European History test.


GOALS: Participants will understand

  • The value and challenge of teaching AP European History
  • Some of the resource options
  • The necessity and components of a strong syllabus
  • The components of the APEH test and how it is scored
  • How to differentiate instruction to support the equity and access opportunities
  • A variety of teaching strategies to address the challenge of the course and to enable students to improve their analytical skills
  • How to improve reading and writing skills
  • The value and components of performance assessments
  • The value of simulations and short research projects


NB: We look forward to sharing of “best practices” from participants throughout the workshop

DAY 1
  1. Introduction; Philosophy and purpose of AP: communication with parents and administrators regarding its value College Board Handbook; Special Focus lessons; selection of textbooks, resources, websites; use of films; strategies for teaching primary source analysis
  2. Equity and Access: importance; strategies
    Use of technology
    Overview of AP Test; AP Central; conferences
    AP Audit; Syllabus; conceptual priorities; strategies for success
  3. Strategies for teaching Renaissance; Reformation Art history;Simulation
  4. Multiple Choice questions: purpose, types, strategies Graphs and charts
DAY 2
  1. Document Based Questions: purpose and strategies
  2. DBQ rubric; AP Reading; sample grading
  3. Strategies for teaching 17th & 18th c. Absolutism
  4. Strategies for teaching Intellectual history: Scientific Revolution; performance assessments: Scientific Revolution project; Enlightenment
DAY 3
  1. Strategies for teaching French Revolution: PERSIA; simulation
    Strategies for teaching Napoleon; Early 19th c. Isms/Revolution
  2. Free Response Questions: strategies, rubrics; sample grading
  3. Strategies for teaching Social History: Pre-Industrial & Early Industrial; films
DAY 4
  1. Strategies for teaching 19thc. Revolutions and Isms
    Strategies for teaching Late 19thc.; social history; imperialism;
    intellectual history simulation
  2. Strategies for teaching World War I; Interwar years; WW II
  3. Strategies for teaching Cold War to the present; analysis of political cartoons
    Participants share units
  4. Participants share units
    How to review for the AP Exam; Post-AP test activities
    Exam results: Use of Instructional Planning Sheets

 

Lenore Schneider - Lenore majored in history at Duke University, and earned her doctorate in social history at Carnegie Mellon, where she studied under Peter Stearns. Lenore enjoys teaching AP World History, AP European History, and Global History at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, CT. She is also the District Facilitator for the beginning teacher program there. She has served as a reader and Table Leader of both AP World History and AP European History, served on the test development committee, and has been a College Board consultant for many years. She currently serves the College Board as an AP National Leader (evaluating and training AP consultants) and on the Advisory Board. She also mentors AP teachers in Maine and contributes to review sessions for students in Harlem. Lenore has been recognized with the AP Teacher Recognition Award from the New England Regional office of the College Board, the Salvucci Outstanding Teacher Award, two Fulbrights, Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Princeton, and selected for the Goethe Institut. She has traveled to forty countries, and has taught AP Institutes in sites across the United States , including the AP National Conference, as well as in China, Slovakia, and Switzerland. She has co-authored a review book and is featured on the Bedford Martin DVD of exemplary AP teaching strategies. She is also trained to provide workshops in Data Analysis and pre-AP Historical Thinking Skills..

"We were able to ask important questions about the teaching of the AP class & we were able to share & to gather many new ideas. This has been the most beneficial conference I have ever been a part of."

- Past Client