This session AP Human Geography – with Laura Kmetz is offered ONLINE during Week 2: June 22-25, 2026.
Meet your APSI Consultant for AP Human Geography
Laura Kmetz just finished her 31st year of teaching. She is the Social Studies Department Chair at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, TX, where she has taught AP Human Geography for 12 years. Since 2019, she has written standards-based activities for APHG published weekly by the National Council for Geographic Education. Laura has served as an AP Exam Reader since 2017 and has held leadership positions since 2021, including as an Exam Leader in 2025. She received an award for Distinguished Teaching in AP Human Geography in 2023 from the National Council for Geographic Education and has been designated as a recognized teacher by the State of Texas and a distinguished teacher by Dallas ISD. Laura received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Education degree in Counseling from the University of North Texas.
In this APSI, participants will closely examine the Course and Exam Description (CED) and make a yearlong instructional plan that incorporates all units, topics, and skills referenced in the CED. Instructional strategies and tools, including AP Daily videos and other resources available in AP Classroom, as well as model lesson plans and activities that support and engage students with varied needs and interests will be shared by the APSI instructor. Participants will explore a variety of resources and tools that can be used to create engaging lessons and will write an original lesson plan on which they will receive feedback from the APSI instructor. Time will be devoted to discussing strategies for encouraging students, especially those who are underrepresented in AP classes, to participate in the AP program. Time will also be devoted to understanding how free-response questions (FRQs) are scored and how to use class time to build students’ skills in responding successfully to FRQs. Finally, participants will learn to use the data in AP Classroom and the Instructional Planning Report to assess, reflect on, and guide instruction.
APSI Session Description
This workshop is designed to support both teachers new to teaching AP Human Geography and those who are experienced in teaching it. As a result of participating in this summer institute, teachers will be prepared to teach AP Human Geography and will look forward to teaching the course. Specifically, they will
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learn about specific strategies and resources to support a diverse population of learners in the APHG classroom
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use their local school calendar to create an instructional calendar that includes planning and pacing for the year
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incorporate content from AP Classroom resources and suggested course skills and instructional activities in the College Board’s Course and Exam Description (CED) to create lesson plans
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use the “big ideas” and “developing understanding” in the CED for each unit to uncover the “hidden curriculum” of APHG
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learn how to use their local area to engage students in “doing” geography related to specific topics in the CED
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explore engaging media and complete lesson plans related to specific topics in the CED from a wide variety of sources and incorporate them into their instructional plan
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experience several instructional activities to teach specific topics in the CED that the instructor has used successfully with students
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learn specific strategies to support students in writing responses to free-response questions (FRQs)
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gain confidence in assessing and providing feedback on students’ responses to FRQs based on the instructor’s experience in leadership at the AP reading
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explore classroom resources and professional development offered by sources such as the National Council for Geographic Education and the American Geographical Society
Daily Schedule and Tentative Agenda
Specific topics subject to change based on needs and interests of participants
