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College Board consultant and educator Katherine Jaroch is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and has taught English on both coasts for the past 18 years. She holds a B.S. from Miami University and an M.A. from The University of Michigan and earned her National Board Certification in 2007. Since 2015, she has been teaching at South Pasadena High School just outside Los Angeles, California, where she is the lead AP Lang teacher. She has extensive experience with new teacher mentoring and adult learning, has spearheaded curriculum development in Ethnic Studies and other courses, and has served as Department Chair and ELD Site Coordinator.
AP Lang is her preferred course to teach, and her class has been considered a favorite of students for both its rigor and accessibility. She is particularly skilled at effectively integrating writing conferences and reflection strategies, and supporting recently reclassified ELD students in AP Lang. Katherine was voted Teacher of the Year at SPHS in 2021 and she enjoys running, reading, and spending quality time with her adolescent son (when he allows it). Katie can be contacted at [email protected]
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KATHERINE JAROCH
"Katie has been an absolute pleasure to learn from and collaborate with. She's incredibly knowledgeable and consistently supportive, making the experience both enriching and enjoyable."
"Katie was consistently prepared, helpful, and considerate of my learning in this course. I would highly recommend her as a teacher for future APSIs." - Marin By The Bay participants |
COURSE DESCRIPTIONCourse Description
This institute is designed for both new and experienced AP Language and Composition teachers to come together as a community of learners and enhance their teaching practices, discover new resources, and engage in activities to help plan, instruct, and manage the AP Lang course. Participants will explore the CED, review and discuss scored student writing samples from the 2026 digital exam, and learn how to skillfully navigate and implement AP Classroom for its formative assessments and targeted practice. Over the course of the week, participants will also gain insight into equity in the AP classroom, as well as best practices for addressing generative AI, teaching critical thinking and close-reading skills, and choosing contemporary texts that bring the world into the classroom and make this course matter, at a deep level, for students. Participants will also learn how to select texts and authors from other eras while creating or tailoring syllabi to prepare students for success on the AP Exam and in college-level writing. Particular attention will be paid to designing flexible collaborative groups and routines in the classroom to encourage discussion and reflective practices all year long, as well as how to provide multiple reading and writing opportunities for students while staying on top of grading. Finally, we will share best practices for teaching and scaffolding rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and argument. Participants will receive full sets of sample student essays from the 2026 exam. Participants, bring a laptop and ensure you have access to your school calendar for the 2026-27 school year.
4 DAY AGENDA
Day One: Overview and Groundwork
Overview of the Course and Exam Description (CED) and AP Language Course
Equity and Access
The Foundations of Rhetoric
Course and Syllabus Design
Classroom Organization
Unit and Lesson Planning
Day Two: Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Situation
The Psychology of Decision-Making
Multiple Choice Analysis Passages
2026 Rhetorical Analysis Prompt
Text Connections and Rhetorical Writing Strategies
AP Daily and AP Classroom
Unit and Lesson Sharing
Day Three: Argument
Multiple Choice Composition Passages
2026 Argument Prompt
Assessments, Grading, Reflection
Text Connections and Rhetorical Reading Strategies
Unit and Lesson Planning
Day Four: Synthesis and Research Writing
2026 Synthesis Prompt
Digital Citizenship and AI
Best practices for scaffolding, student discussions, small groups, data-gathering, and writing conferences
Unit and Lesson Sharing
This institute is designed for both new and experienced AP Language and Composition teachers to come together as a community of learners and enhance their teaching practices, discover new resources, and engage in activities to help plan, instruct, and manage the AP Lang course. Participants will explore the CED, review and discuss scored student writing samples from the 2026 digital exam, and learn how to skillfully navigate and implement AP Classroom for its formative assessments and targeted practice. Over the course of the week, participants will also gain insight into equity in the AP classroom, as well as best practices for addressing generative AI, teaching critical thinking and close-reading skills, and choosing contemporary texts that bring the world into the classroom and make this course matter, at a deep level, for students. Participants will also learn how to select texts and authors from other eras while creating or tailoring syllabi to prepare students for success on the AP Exam and in college-level writing. Particular attention will be paid to designing flexible collaborative groups and routines in the classroom to encourage discussion and reflective practices all year long, as well as how to provide multiple reading and writing opportunities for students while staying on top of grading. Finally, we will share best practices for teaching and scaffolding rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and argument. Participants will receive full sets of sample student essays from the 2026 exam. Participants, bring a laptop and ensure you have access to your school calendar for the 2026-27 school year.
4 DAY AGENDA
Day One: Overview and Groundwork
Overview of the Course and Exam Description (CED) and AP Language Course
Equity and Access
The Foundations of Rhetoric
Course and Syllabus Design
Classroom Organization
Unit and Lesson Planning
Day Two: Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Situation
The Psychology of Decision-Making
Multiple Choice Analysis Passages
2026 Rhetorical Analysis Prompt
Text Connections and Rhetorical Writing Strategies
AP Daily and AP Classroom
Unit and Lesson Sharing
Day Three: Argument
Multiple Choice Composition Passages
2026 Argument Prompt
Assessments, Grading, Reflection
Text Connections and Rhetorical Reading Strategies
Unit and Lesson Planning
Day Four: Synthesis and Research Writing
2026 Synthesis Prompt
Digital Citizenship and AI
Best practices for scaffolding, student discussions, small groups, data-gathering, and writing conferences
Unit and Lesson Sharing