According to Bellows Free Academy teachers Larissa Hebert and Christopher Moore, within a couple of weeks they will be heading off to score AP exams.  Hebert and Moore explained how, after many years teaching the AP course, they were selected through an application process to participate as AP Readers.

Hebert said she will be scoring AP Language and Composition exams in Tampa Fla. from until June 10-17.  According to Hebert, at the beginning of her visit, she, along with fellow AP Language instructors, will go through a training process to ensure that exams are fairly graded. Each day thereafter will be followed by scoring exams from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. with breaks.

“I am excited to meet AP Language teachers from around the country to find out what they are doing in their classrooms and what works well with their students– the ‘tips of the trade,’” Hebert said.

Moore said he is traveling to Salt Lake City for the AP Government scoring. After four years teaching AP curriculum, Moore said he is looking forward to his first experience as being an on sight reader. 

According to Moore, from June 2-10, he will score AP tests from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., even on the weekend.  He said that all AP readings, teachers gather in a group at a table with one leader who oversees the teachers as they go through students’ free response questions. 

For both Hebert and Moore, they said that being an AP Reader will improve their ability to teach AP curriculum going forward, and that this opportunity will provide them with a deeper understanding of effective strategies and skills for students to use to earn a high exam score.

“I have read many of the scored essays with scorer notes that have been released online, but I don’t think this can replace the authentic experience of scoring actual exams,” Hebert said. 

According to Moore, “The knowledge that I’ll take away in terms of the scoring process and what readers are looking for will tailor my instruction for students in the coming years to give them more preparation so they can be more successful.”

Having to grade for the majority of the day will leave Hebert and Moore with little spare time. Hebert said that she plans on meeting with family that live in Tampa, see the manatees and relax. 

“The day ends at 5, so I won’t have much free time…I will go swimming at the hotel because, after sitting all day, I’ll need the exercise to feel rejuvenated for the next day of scoring,” Hebert said.

After the work day, Moore plans on exploring nearby hiking trails and looking around Salt Lake City architecture, tourist sights and seeing the The Tabernacle Choir.