Dear World History AP Family:
As I’m sure you know, this Wednesday or Thursday , your student took a test on Robert Marks, The Origins of the Modern World. This challenging read and the open ended assessment was likely a struggle. Few students have tackled a monograph of this type on their own before. For that reason, I curved the test to minimize the impact on their grade. You can see the score in GradeSpeed. This kind of assignment is part of the AP challenge dictated by College Board. Too many students are entering liberal arts programs in universities without this important college skill. I would like you and your student to think of this as one step in a long journey, a journey that will open many doors to opportunity and learning. I wouldn’t want anyone to give up on the course based on this single grade; a grade weighted the same as six others in this marking period.
This is an opportunity for you, me, and your child to reflect on where they are in the Advanced Placement environment. This transition is a tough one, and nobody, least of all your child, should feel dejected by the result. This grade is simply a measure of where we are and how far we need to go before college. I can tell students the course is rigorous, I can tell them that the tests are tough and the reading is unlike anything they are likely to have experienced before. But they often don’t believe me. I understand, they’ve heard it before. But now it’s real. Now, my hope is, I have his or her attention and they are open to new strategies, new ways of thinking, new work ethics.
Of course the trick is to separate “can’t” from “won’t”. If your child can’t do the work, but he or she is willing to make the effort to succeed, I’ve got the tools and the experience to get them there. If they won’t do the work, if the pressures of a tough arts program and tough academics is too much for them, that’s okay too. After all, we’re asking a 15 year old to manage a 18 year-old’s work. Consider this, this assignment was given 13 weeks ago, if Marks received little or no attention in that time, that should speak loudly to you . I need your help in considering these questions, talking with your student about goals and the time and effort they have for academics. Advanced Placement curriculum is about effort.
The main thing is how your student is managing with Strayer’s, Ways of the World. This is the book we will spend 90% of our time with the rest of the year. We’ll talk about Marks, but there will be no further assessments.
As always, there is rich support at the class web site, BinghamsPlace.com. And as always, email me with your questions or concerns,
Wyatt Bingham
As I’m sure you know, this Wednesday or Thursday , your student took a test on Robert Marks, The Origins of the Modern World. This challenging read and the open ended assessment was likely a struggle. Few students have tackled a monograph of this type on their own before. For that reason, I curved the test to minimize the impact on their grade. You can see the score in GradeSpeed. This kind of assignment is part of the AP challenge dictated by College Board. Too many students are entering liberal arts programs in universities without this important college skill. I would like you and your student to think of this as one step in a long journey, a journey that will open many doors to opportunity and learning. I wouldn’t want anyone to give up on the course based on this single grade; a grade weighted the same as six others in this marking period.
This is an opportunity for you, me, and your child to reflect on where they are in the Advanced Placement environment. This transition is a tough one, and nobody, least of all your child, should feel dejected by the result. This grade is simply a measure of where we are and how far we need to go before college. I can tell students the course is rigorous, I can tell them that the tests are tough and the reading is unlike anything they are likely to have experienced before. But they often don’t believe me. I understand, they’ve heard it before. But now it’s real. Now, my hope is, I have his or her attention and they are open to new strategies, new ways of thinking, new work ethics.
Of course the trick is to separate “can’t” from “won’t”. If your child can’t do the work, but he or she is willing to make the effort to succeed, I’ve got the tools and the experience to get them there. If they won’t do the work, if the pressures of a tough arts program and tough academics is too much for them, that’s okay too. After all, we’re asking a 15 year old to manage a 18 year-old’s work. Consider this, this assignment was given 13 weeks ago, if Marks received little or no attention in that time, that should speak loudly to you . I need your help in considering these questions, talking with your student about goals and the time and effort they have for academics. Advanced Placement curriculum is about effort.
The main thing is how your student is managing with Strayer’s, Ways of the World. This is the book we will spend 90% of our time with the rest of the year. We’ll talk about Marks, but there will be no further assessments.
As always, there is rich support at the class web site, BinghamsPlace.com. And as always, email me with your questions or concerns,
Wyatt Bingham
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