During “drop/add” timeline, provide students with extra motivation to stay enrolled
Drop/add can be a difficult time for students to remain committed to an AP course. They are at the beginning of the course, and if it is their first AP course, they may be having a difficult time with the rigorous nature of it. Students report that having extra motivation and encouragement from their teachers during this time makes a significant difference in their decision to remain enrolled.
We suggest implementing these strategies:
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.