Education is the lighting of a fire, not the Education is the lighting of a fire, not the filling of a bucket.filling of a bucket.

William Butler William Butler YeatsYeats

S449 AP BiologyS449 AP BiologySharon McCoySharon McCoy

smccoy@d211.org

(847)755-3815(847)755-3815

Office HoursOffice Hours7:20 – 9:00 AM7:20 – 9:00 AM

12:00 – 5:00 PM12:00 – 5:00 PM

About MeAbout Me

In my 22In my 22ndnd year of teaching year of teaching

Illinois State University B.S. Biology EducationIllinois State University B.S. Biology Education

Northern Illinois University M.S. Secondary Northern Illinois University M.S. Secondary EducationEducation

12 and 10 year old daughters and a 4 year old 12 and 10 year old daughters and a 4 year old sonson

Have taught Accelerated Chemistry, Chemistry, Have taught Accelerated Chemistry, Chemistry, Accelerated Biology, BiologyAccelerated Biology, Biology

Seventh year teaching AP BiologySeventh year teaching AP Biology

My ApproachMy Approach

Taught as a freshman level college courseTaught as a freshman level college course– Main focus is to prepare students to be successful on Main focus is to prepare students to be successful on

the AP Exam in Maythe AP Exam in May

LecturesLectures

Small group activitiesSmall group activities

Individual workIndividual work

Laboratory ActivitiesLaboratory Activities

Field TripsField Trips

ProjectsProjects

GradingGrading

50% Labs, Quizzes, Abstracts50% Labs, Quizzes, AbstractsTwelve prescribed labs as recommended by the Twelve prescribed labs as recommended by the College Board plus other lab activitiesCollege Board plus other lab activitiesVocabulary quizzesVocabulary quizzesAbstractsAbstractsBook journalBook journal

50% Tests50% TestsTwo to three tests per quarterTwo to three tests per quarter

Grades posted to district electronic gradebookGrades posted to district electronic gradebook

Other thoughts…Other thoughts…

Investigate what type of credit a college or Investigate what type of credit a college or university will give for AP scoresuniversity will give for AP scoresMain focus is to prepare for the AP test in May Main focus is to prepare for the AP test in May which I hope every student will takewhich I hope every student will takeFocus and work hard consistently throughout the Focus and work hard consistently throughout the yearyearAP review guides and the value of an AP courseAP review guides and the value of an AP courseGet organized!Get organized!Learn time managementLearn time managementDevelop responsibilityDevelop responsibilityDevelop good study habitsDevelop good study habits