AP Course:

AP BIOLOGY

Danielle Schroeder

CONSULTANT: Danielle Schroeder

Danielle Schroeder has been teaching AP Biology at Mountain View High School (Marana Unified School District) in Tucson, Arizona for 11 years. Danielle earned her M.Ed. in Science Education and B.S. in Physiological Sciences from the University of Arizona with minors in Chemistry and Sociology. In 2024, Danielle was honored to be selected as the Raytheon Leaders in Education Awardee for high school in Southern Arizona. She is also very proud to be selected for the HHMI Biointeractive Academy in their 2025 cohort. She has been an AP Exam Reader since 2018, scoring Free Response Questions and networking with faculty. Danielle first earned National Board Certification in 2019 and coached teachers pursuing board certification around Arizona. She earned the distinction of being a Circle K/University of Arizona Outstanding High School Faculty finalist in 2012 and being inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame for her work as a science teacher, leader, and tennis coach. As a workshop consultant, Danielle is committed to helping teachers establish robust AP Biology programs at their schools with a special emphasis on student engagement and equity in the classroom. The instructional strategies and experiences she shares have come from many professional contacts and conferences and are field-tested by her current students.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

During our AP Biology course participants will:

  • Explore the course and exam description, including the unit guides, while making connections to the course curricular requirement

  • Develop a course plan by unit and topic that incorporates the content and skills of the AP Biology Course into their school’s academic calendar.

  • Examine formative and summative assessment items to create lesson plans that reinforce content and skill connections.

  • Practice applying the scoring guidelines from the most recent AP Exam to samples of student work

  • Identify student strengths and areas of refinement using data available through AP Classroom Content & Skills Performance Reports and Instructional Planning Reports.

  • Explore classroom-tested strategies, instructional materials, and pedagogical tools pertinent to the content and skills required for success in their AP course.

  • Develop professional connections within the AP community online and in-person.

Agenda:

Day 1

  • What is AP Biology?

  • Previewing the Science Practices, Content, and Skills

  • Expanding AP Opportunities at your school

  • Enzyme Lab with Yeast Spheres

  • Understanding the Course Framework & Big Ideas

  • Setting up the Diffusion & Osmosis Lab

  • AP Exam Structure

Day 2

  • Incorporating Instructional Strategies within Topics

  • Scaffolding the Science Practices

  • Diffusion & Osmosis Cell Size Lab

  • Planning Your Course with a Pacing Calendar

  • Multiple Ways to Use Spinach to Investigate Photosynthesis

  • Analyzing Instructional Planning Reports to Improve Instruction

Day 3

  • Strategies for Incorporating Science Practices into Curriculum

  • Representing Data in Graphs & Statistical Tests

  • Teaching & Learning from Student Models

  • Biotechnology Labs with Vendors and Paper Models

  • Inviting Inquiry & Engineering into Cellular Respiration Labs

  • Designing Formative & Summative Assessments with AP Classroom

Day 4

  • Planning for AP Exam Review using AP Classroom

  • Scoring Free Response Questions using Scoring Guidelines

  • Leveraging Chief Reader Reports to address common misconceptions

  • Introducing Chi Square and Inquiry in the Animal Behavior Lab

  • Establishing Peer Review Routines for Free Response Questions

  • Additional High Quality Curricular & Peer Resources for Future Support