What are Honors & AP Courses?  Honors courses are taught utilizing the same Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) as general education courses, plus additional enrichment activities to increase the rigor of the standard course content.  Advance Placement is a college course program developed by the College Board.  AP courses have required instructor training Institutes conducted by College Board employees who are AP Readers, AP Instructors, and Professors who provide exams, texts, and instructional materials to teachers.  AP instructors’ course syllabi must be approved by the College Board, the school district, and the school, so there is an extra measure of accountability.

What are the Benefits of Honors & AP Courses?  Benefits:  Analysis and critical thinking development  Interdisciplinary Connections & Real-World Applications  Endurance development & Growth through challenge .5 GPA bonus on transcripts  AP courses better prepare students for post-secondary endeavors  College & Career Readiness & Dual Enrollment Options  AP courses have potential future financial benefit!  The PCHS Academy of Science, Research, & Medicine has 12 potential AP courses offered  If a student passes 10 AP exams, they will essentially be able to bypass 1 year of college courses, saving anywhere from $5,000-$30,000+

What are the Expectations of Honors & AP Courses?  Maintain an 80% or higher  Ability to write and think critically  Ability to persevere through rigorous content and study expectations  Homework: 30+ minutes each night (Honors = ~30 min/night & AP = ~1 hour/night)  Homework Purpose:  Flipped Classroom concept - guided reading or videos at home, then application activities at school (labs, debates, etc.)  Improved Reading Comprehension Levels  Vocabulary Acquisition  Skill Acquisition  Navigating Difficult Content

Why is my “A” student struggling?  Rising level of challenge  National & global competition  Growth through struggle (while maintaining GPA)  AP Transcript Bonus 10% grade/1.0 GPA  Extra Credit Opportunities  Exams will ease as students grow  You can help!

How can I help my child succeed?  Summer Enrichment & Acceleration Projects – Get Ahead!  Teaching stress management  Diet, exercise, rest, vitamins, water, etc.  Teaching discipline & study habits  Learning good times for study & HW (morning person v. night owls)  Working ahead  Scheduling (Homework Calendar/Class Websites)  Teaching multi-tasking  Example: cleaning room while watching Ted Talks for scored discussion, while watching extra credit film analysis, or while listening to AP Bio podcasts  Eliminate Chores and buy your child an iPhone & iPad  Just kidding!