Mass Insight Education and Research

Explore Student Experiences Throughout the School Year

Click on each critical period to explore student experiences.

Strong Start

August/September

Keeping Up

November/December

Midterm Reset

January/February

Exam Prep

March/April

Due to varying school schedules and contexts, the exact timing of the critical periods will differ by school and even by class. The months provided are a guide for where teachers should be looking for experiences based on time of year. Experiences marked with “ Students Shared” were generated directly from conversations with students about what supports their success in AP.

Midterm Reset

As students return from winter break, it is important to focus on a “re-” mindset. Expectations may need to be reset, concepts re-taught, and students reconnected with their community, peers, and purpose in AP®. Providing intentional structures around skill building, coaching for success, and helping students maintain a growth mindset and build independence and agency are essential to getting students re-engaged after the break.

Explore each experience by clicking on it.

Mindsets

Reinvest students in purpose and importance of their hard work

Model what “resetting” can look like- identifying strengths and weaknesses and taking action

Re-invigorate students so they can see they are halfway through the course

Student Voice & Agency

Step back into a more informal/supportive role, letting students take center stage

Connect students with AP alumni and provide mentorship pairings for second half of year

Assign students to lead learning recaps from the first half of the year

Coach students to set goals around the second semester of their AP class (recovery/persistence goals)

Classroom Community & Culture

Celebrate accomplishments from first half of course

Conduct mini-ceremony or celebration to “move” students from first half to second half of course

Reach out to every family again, re-grounding families in AP course

AP Skill Building

Utilize midterm assessment as AP exam practice

Re-teach areas from first half of course where many students have challenges

Intentionally revisit and reteach concepts and soft skills required for AP success

Build in regular time for pulse checks and material recaps

Provide updated course map for what will be taught and expectations for last half of year

Students Shared

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Feedback & Grading

Utilize data to conference with students and invest them in their own learning/growth

Assign students to revisit feedback from first half of course and reflect on their progression/strengths/areas for growth

Move from direct to indirect feedback- allow students to identify and correct their own errors

Download a printable On-Track Framework.

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Looking for concrete ways to bring the On-Track experiences to students?

Each experience links to multiple classroom strategies contained within the “Classroom Strategies for AP Success” bank. This menu of strategies is meant to help teachers, counselors, coaches and administrators support the learning experience of historically underserved students in Advanced Placement® classes equitably. It includes strategies that address the academic and non-academic skills of students as well as strategies to modify instruction.

View Classroom Strategies for AP Success