AP PSYCHOLOGY
Mr. Kean
ROOM # B-304 and OFFICE #A311
Office hours: 7th or 8th or by appointment
ckean@dist113.org
224-765-2294
Web site: https://sites.google.com/a/dist113.org/appsych-kean/
Welcome to AP Psych! This course is a year-long introduction to the field of Psychology that is intended to
help prepare you for the AP Psychology exam in May. The course will be organized in the following way:
1 Quarter:
story & Approaches/ocial Social Psychology
Research Methods
Biological Bases of Behavior
st
2 Quarter:
Sensation & Perception
States of Consciousness
Learning
Cognition
1 Sem Final Exam- simulated A.P. Exam
nd
3 Quarter:
Motivation & Emotion
Development
Personality
rd
4 Quarter: (AP Exam- May 4 )
Testing & Individual Differences
Abnormal Behavior & Treatment
AP Exam review
th
th
st

Grades:
85% - Quizzes, tests, projects, journal entries, homework, activities in class
15% - Semester exam

Homework, late work:
Homework is due on the specified date for full credit. Students have the opportunity to use an
“Oops” pass (2 per quarter) to turn in homework the following day for full credit. Students will
receive partial credit if an assignment is turned in one day late after “oops” passes are used.

I check email. If you need to get in touch with me, this will likely be the fastest method. I often check
email in the evenings and respond to student’s questions at that time.

Preparation for quizzes and tests:
Advance notice will be given for upcoming tests and quizzes. We have our first test
Wednesday (9/17) /Thursday (9/18), (covering introduction to psychology and social
psychology). Review sheets will been handed out and time in class will be spent
preparing students to be successful on assessments.

Helpful Materials:
1. The companion website for our textbook: on this FREE website, students
can find practice web quizzes (that resemble test questions), flashcards,
and Flip It videos for each chapter.
 http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/myersap2e/default.as
p#t_924621____
2. “Strive for a 5: Preparing for the AP Psychology Examination” by Allison Herzig,
Laura Brandt, and Nathaniel Naughton – this test preparation book (organized
to follow along with our Myers’ Psychology for AP Second Edition textbook)
offers practice multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, practice free
response questions and more.

Skill Development:
o Reading
o Annotating
o Group collaboration
o Critical thinking/application
o Essay development
o Thesis Creation

Ways to help your child succeed:
o Checking that he/she always has a pen in hand when reading (double
sided journals)!
o Ensuring he/she has contacted me in regards to absences
o Contacting me whenever you have concerns or questions
o Checking student status on Infinite Campus for grades/missing work
o Encouraging conversation with me regarding assignments and questions

Thanks for coming!
General Policies
Participation
 I feel lucky to teach a course that all students are able to connect with. This
natural connection to the material offers a unique opportunity for quality
classroom interaction. I strongly believe that the best class environment is one in
which everyone contributes. Participation is not just talking all the time. In my
classroom, it refers to oral participation as well as being prepared, being focused
on the task at hand, being involved in class discussions and activities. Disruptive
behavior or excessive talking can have a negative effect on your grade
Required materials
 You will need a 3 ring binder and a spiral notebook that you will bring to every
class. The binder and notebook should be separate from what you use in other
classes. The binder should contain unit outlines, notes, handouts, and current and
past assignments. The notebook will be used as a double entry journal where you
will respond to every reading. The notebook will also be used as a place to
respond to “questions of the day.” I will check journals daily and periodically
collect them for points. ** If you are well prepared and bring the above items to class every day,
textbooks may be left at home.
Attendance
 Regular attendance is crucial. Much of what we do in class will consist of
demonstrations, activities and video clips which cannot be made up. It is your
responsibility to make sure that all absences are authorized, as well as to find out
what assignments you may have missed. If you miss a test, it is your responsibility
to arrange a makeup time within a reasonable period of time. In most cases, you
should be prepared to take the test upon your return. **Missing class on the day
before a test, quiz, or project due date does not excuse you from taking the test
or quiz or turning in the project.
Note: I understand that from time to time, extenuating circumstances arise which may make it
impossible to perform to the best of our abilities. If you should find yourself in this situation, please see
me in my office or before class and I will consider your situation and try to be fair.
Oops Passes
 You will be issued 2 “oops” passes per quarter. The purpose of an oops pass is to
allow you two opportunities (if you need them) to get full credit on an assignment
which is not completed on time. The assignment must be turned in with the oops
pass at the next class meeting in order to receive credit without penalty.
Test Make-ups
If you are not pleased with your test score, you can take one test make-up per
quarter. The make-up counts as two thirds and the original score counts as one
third of your new score. The tests can be taken in the Testing Center in C-207.
Learning Targets
Student learning targets are shared through rubrics, evaluation criteria, and
examples. Much of our work focuses on building analytical reasoning skills through
formative assessments that emphasize the exploration and application of
psychological concepts. In-class and out of class assignments are designed to
provide opportunities to practice skills and develop competency to succeed on
summative assessments, including the Advanced Placement Exam
 Chromebooks/Digital Devices - Chromebooks and other digital devices can have a
large and positive impact on your education and on the classroom learning
community. These same tools can also be a source of distraction. Recent research
has shown that laptops in the classroom have great benefits, but also significant
drawbacks if used incorrectly. As a result of this research, here are some general
guidelines for our classroom regarding the use of Chromebooks. Overall, the digital
classroom is new for teachers and students; the overriding goal of this class is to
expand your learning. Where digital devices serve this purpose, all the better.
Where digital devices distract from this purpose, the following policies apply:
o Chromebooks will be used frequently to access course information facilitate
group work, and to present information to peers in a paperless and dynamic
way.
o Notebook and pen are required for class every day; some class periods we
will devote solely to notebook work; we will explicitly develop note-taking
skills in a paper and pen medium. (Smutko and Broaders, 2013)
o Students will keep digital devices closed unless explicitly required for class.
Students are still subject to the rules of the student handbook regarding
cell phones and other devices
o Students caught using off-task websites may lose the privilege of using
Chromebooks.
Grading
 Grades will be determined according to a point system in which all assignments,
papers, quizzes/tests, group activities, and projects will be assigned a point value
and combined to make up the semester grade. Grading will be cumulative through
each semester. You should expect to take a final exam first semester worth 15%
of the total semester grade.


Percentages are calculated as follows:
93-100
A
73-76
90-92
A70-72
87-89
B+
67-69
83-86
B
63-66
80-82
B60-62
77-79
C+
59 and
Below
C
CD+
D
DE
Academic honesty is a top priority. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.
Please read these policies carefully and keep them in your binder. If you have any
questions or concerns please feel free contact me. I am looking forward to our class this
year and look toward working together to make this a positive experience for all.
Please feel free to contact me via phone or email and I attempt to return your message
within 24-48 hours.
Mr. Kean
P.S. Your textbook has a companion website that many students find helpful. Check it
out:
http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/myersap2e/default.asp#t_924621__
__