More flooding in the area, and my brain feels AP-saturated

Yesterday's conference fare was AP and poetry. Finally, I felt like I knew what I was doing. It was almost like I do even more to get my kids prepped to talk about poetry than the exam is asking for. So, that was heartening.

I'm glad I came home right at 3pm; another weather disaster hit the surrounding area (not right in St. J., but Lyndonville, Burke, Sutton, etc.)-- three years in a row on July 10 there has been massive flooding. Red letter day, to be sure. We got a few sprinkles/light rain, but that's it. I'm sorry for those who can't get a leg up; and now, no FEMA to depend on. It's not a pretty picture for the NEK. 

Today is the last (half) day of APSI. I'm pretty sure I know enough now to see what I can do to help my kids approach the test better. That was my goal, right? I'm also a little annoyed at the College Board for some of the testing format-- we've been told for decades not to use multiple choice. But yet the test-- the first full hour-- has 55 multiple choice questions, all related to passages given that require "unpacking"-- that means, read the passage, do the questions, then move to the next, and so on. Three passages, 55 questions, in one hour. Talk about pressure. 

Then, there are three required "essays" (more like well-developed rough drafts) to be done in two hours. Two are analytical in nature, and the third is somewhat similar, but they can write about any book that really made a mark in their high school life, as long as they can go deep with the discussion. 

We'll be practicing multiple choice and timed writing a lot. 

This conference did not focus on the AP Language course; I think I'm okay with the focus of that one. I'll review the sample exams and design practice for those kids, too. 

I hate the idea of having to devote time to test practice, but that's the game we have to play. All so that they might achieve a 3 or higher -- and we hope higher-- in case their chosen college accepts the AP scores for credit. Which many won't anyhow, or they'll accept them, but still require the kids to take a comparable class. 

I'm still the biggest fan of dual credit, because those credits are earned over a semester, and they'll be at least used for elective credits by the colleges. 

AP is a gamble, with a lot of pressure attached. The instructor has made it clear to us that "AP won't necessarily get you into college, but it may keep you there." In other words, it teaches time management and exposes kids to the kind of intellectual rigor through the course material that they may see in a college setting. 

Well, so does dual credit, if it's taught properly. 

But I guess I'm almost ready to play the game.

C