AR AIMS AP SCIENCE NEWSLETTER
Learning to Adapt to Change- Volume 1, Issue 1
Welcome Back!
Greetings fellow science colleagues! I know that you have been busy trying to plan for the year in ways that you never thought possible before the covid March winds blew into your life this spring. Now that you have the first day of school done, hopefully your stress has eased a bit.
I wanted to take a moment of your time to introduce myself and let you know that I am here to help you. My name is Tanya Ruble, and I am the new science content director for AR AIMS. I have spent the last 22 years in the AP and Pre-AP classroom teaching mostly chemistry. Although I am new to the position, I am not new to AR AIMS. My former school was a Cohort 3 school, and I had the opportunity granted to me by the wonderful Debbie Bilyeu to be a part of the PAP science curriculum team for the last five years.
Rhonda Riggin, the PAP science curriculum team, and I have been working hard this summer to continue to update our PAP and AP science sites. This school year will be nothing like you have ever seen in your lifetime, but know that AR AIMS is here to support you with anything that you may need. If you need one of our resources in a more useful format for virtual or blended learning, please let us know how we can help you. We work hard to make things a little bit easier for you!
Make sure that you bookmark your AP and PAP sites that you are a member of for easy access throughout the year. If you are teaching a new AP content and do not have access to an AP site, let me know ASAP so that I can get you added. Check our sites often for new content because we are continually updating as we find things that would be useful to you.
If you need anything please don't hesitate to reach out via email, call, or text. Together, we can get through this unprecedented year!
AP Fall 2-DAY & NEW 5 Year AP Recertification!
Our Fall Two-Day Workshop will be held October 26th and 27th, 2020 via zoom, from 8:30 to 3:30 each day.
Recently, a Commissioner's Memo from ADE announced that ADE allows AP teachers to receive their 5 year AP "re-certification" by attending the AR AIMS Fall AP Workshop AND the Spring Mock Reading Workshop. You must attend BOTH in the same school year for this re-certification. (Note: New AP teachers must attend an APSI for their initial endorsement.)
AP Biology Presenter, Karen Davis
AP Chemistry Presenter, Todd Abronowitz
Todd currently teaches all levels of chemistry at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, TX and has been teaching chemistry for 30 years. He has presented at two-day conferences and one-day conferences for the College Board and been the presenter for APSI in Texas and Arkansas. He wrote his own laboratory manual and study materials for use in his AP chemistry class. Mr. Abronowitz has received numerous awards including NMSI All-American Teacher of the Year 2012, Shultz Award for outstanding high school chemistry teacher from the DFW section of the ACS, Radio Shack National Teacher Award, Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas Teacher of the Year in 2000, and Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year 1996.
AP Physics 1 Presenter, John Frensley
John teaches Physics and AP Physics at Prosper ISD in Prosper, TX. Mr. Frensley has taught all levels of AP Physics since 2006. He has presented workshops and developed content for National Math and Science Initiative since 2013. He also wrote most of the initial drafts of questions for the AP Physics 1 Workbook. Along with his work as a teacher, Mr. Frensley has a wife and four children who keep him active and busy.
AP Environmental Science Presenter, Matt Wells
Matt Wells (MEd) is an award-winning teacher and educational consultant based in Houston, TX. Having performed ecological research in both Madagascar and Guyana, Matt became a teacher in 2001 and launched his school district’s AP Environmental Science program in 2005, where he has taught APES for 15 years in a low-income urban public school setting. He has been a College Board Reader for APES since 2012, an AP consultant for the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), a regular conference workshop presenter, and has led several APES workshops at Rice University. Matt has conducted Summer Institutes, Mock Exam Readings, Student Study Sessions and other kinds of trainings across the US, receiving numerous awards for his work with students and adults, including the Texas Chemical Council’s “Award for Excellence in Environmental Education”, the TMA’s “Butler Award for Educational Excellence”, and NABT’s “Outstanding Biology Teacher Award”.
Helpful Tools for Virtual Teaching and Learning
This is a free site that you can share with your friends and colleagues!
AP Daily Videos
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoGgviqq4844xLkv_JeR2CPBkTmgoiuau
The Videos will be available through YouTube and also in the AP Classroom.
College Board Exam Dates
Tanya Ruble
Email: tlruble@ualr.edu
Website: https://ualr.edu/aaims/
Phone: (870) 403-6888