Textbook Pick-up This Week - Get a Jump on AP Psychology Reading

An exciting year is ahead of us in AP Psychology! I am looking forward to meeting each one of my new students and beginning this exciting (if challenging) journey together.

In order to let you get a jump start on the reading for our first unit, I will be letting students pick up textbooks this week. I would strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity, as there is a substantial amount of reading for this first unit (and the ones that follow, but I find students need some time to "ease in" to the reading load). Plus, I get to say hello to you before the school year starts!

Hours for Early Textbook Pick-Up

Monday 8/23 - 9AM - 3PM

Tuesday 8/24 - 9AM - 3 PM

Wednesday 8/25 - 1PM-4PM

Thursday 8/26 - 8AM-12PM

Friday 8/27 - 8AM-11 AM & 2PM-4PM

I should be in my room during most of the hours listed above. Keep in mind, official staff inservice/workdays begin on Wednesday, so there are fewer open hours thereafter. Also, there will likely be impromptu meetings and obligations that pop up during those days as well, so if I'm not in my room, I'm likely in the building somewhere (maybe the copy room?).

Once you pick up your textbook, you may want to begin reading the Prologue and Chapter 1 and taking notes in whatever format is comfortable and familiar to you. This is in preparation for a quiz on the reading that will take place the second week of classes (exact date TBD), on which you can use your notes.

One more thing you'll want to take care of before school starts is getting a 3-ring binder for this class (color doesn't matter, so make it as pretty as you like). Since this is a year-long class with a major cumulative test in May (the AP Exam!) you will need to keep all of your notes and handouts organized for the entire year. You will need them for studying in the spring. Ask any former AP Psych student, they will tell you how important this is!

Because it is so important, having that 3-ring binder will count for an assignment grade on Friday, September 3rd. So don't delay! Take advantage of the cheap prices on 3-ring binders because of all the back-to-school sales going on.

Okay, I hope this hasn't scared any of you away already. Don't be too nervous, we'll take this one step at a time. And AP Psych will be a fun and AMAZING experience for you. But it will take some hard work, so do yourself a favor and hit the ground running by getting a little ahead while you have the chance. Hope to see you soon!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation...

Okay, I'm back. I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything to the blog, but I was busy, okay?

Busy doing what? Well, this summer found me on the road (or, more accurately, on a plane) quite a bit in the pursuit of knowledge and fun. Dorky, I know, but if you know me by now you should expect as much. My AP Psych students will be the primary beneficiaries of my wanderings, as a couple trips were dedicated specifically to psychology excitement.

For one, I was able to attend the APA-sponsored Clark University workshop for psychology teachers in late July. Not only did I get to have my picture taken with their lovely Freud statue, but I met some other great psychology teachers, toured the campus (which has a rich history concerning psychology) and got some great ideas for classroom activities.

In early August I continued by psych-related travel when I attended my first (of three) residential colloquia for my masters program. I am currently working toward a masters degree in counseling psychology, but don't ask when I'll be finished because it seems very far away to me right now. This week-long course was focused on learning clinical interviewing skills. And it was held in Florida...but don't be decieved. I didn't spend much time outdoors.

I also was able to fit in a couple of non-psych related trips. My cousin was married in Jamaica in early June and we were able to go (and spend some time on the beach). I also accompanied the Social Studies Department's history travelers on an 11-day trip to Italy in June.


All in all, it was a very eventful summer and I'm looking forward to getting back into something of a normal "routine" with the school year starting. I'm also glad to not have to go through another airport for many months.


Though, I am currently taking two grad classes and they will not be over until Sept. 17th, so my stress levels will be a little higher than normal as the school year begins. I've got a LOT of writing to do for them yet...THEN things can get back to "normal".


If you're a new psych student, welcome aboard! We have an exciting year ahead. If you are a former student and moving on to bigger and better things this year, adios and good luck!

Links for John Nash & A Beautiful Mind Discussion

The case of Nobel Prize winner John Nash presents an interesting platform for exploring the nature of mental illness. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994 for his contribution to game theory, Nash had suffered from paranoid schizophrenia much of his life.

Nash's life was depicted in the 2001 film, A Beautiful Mind, which took considerable dramatic license with his story (although still a good film, in my opinion).

For a more realistic consideration of his illness, treatment, and remarkable recovery, check out the American Experience documentary, A Brilliant Madness. The companion site features bios, extended interviews, and a timeline of mental health treatment.

TV ALERT: The Wounded Platoon

If you're looking for some psych-related television tomorrow night, be sure to check out FRONTLINE's latest invesigation: The Wounded Platoon. Sounds like a great source of information on post-traumatic stress disorder and modern warfare's psychological casualties.

Another one...

Completed by our classmate Sally Mueller... the Sensation (Chapter 5) Quizlet!

See you Sunday at 6:00 PM for our review session! Featured topics include:

• Neuroscience
• Research Methods
• "All that Math Stuff" (standard deviation, descriptive stats)
• Learning (UCR, CR, etc.)

Just Added: Research Methods Quizlet

Thanks to the efforts of classmate Allie Tanzer, we have a new quizlet for our reviewing needs! Allie put together a list of 34 terms from our Research Methods unit (Chapter 1).

Feel free to give it a run-through as you are brushing up on those Chapter 1 notes.

Here's the link: Research Methods Quizlet

Famous Psychologists Quizlet

As the AP Psychology Exam approaches, you may want to avail yourself of some online resources for review.

I have several sets of online vocabulary flashcards available (linked on the left hand navigation bar). More to come, of course. They include options to create "tests" for yourself, play games, or just shuffle through the deck for familiarity.

I would highly recommend using the Famous Psychologists Quizlet to review all those fabulous people in psychology. My list was recently updated to include all the folks recommended by the College Board for the AP Psych curriculum, plus a few more.

There are 75 people in all, and knowing them will also help you review some of the biggest ideas in psychology. Happy reviewing!