Teaching Resources From APA and TOPSS

• High School Psychology is Science
  This resource makes the case that psychology should be included as a STEM discipline at the high school level.

• Strategies For Communicating Psychology as a K-12 Science
  A review of the APA National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula and the Next Generation Science Standards Science Practices and Crosscutting Concepts.

• Talking Points for Advocating Psychology as a Science Course
  How high school psychology meets the criteria of a science course so that states may award STEM credit for psychology coursework.

• "Promoting Psychological Science: A Compendium of Laboratory Exercises for Teachers of High School Psychologyopens in new window"
  The Society for the Teaching of Psychology has published a new e-book that provides lab exercises for most of the topics taught in a high school psychology course. The idea for the e-book came out of the APA high school summit.

• TOPSS Webinar on Teaching Resources (PDF, 2.44MB)opens in new window
  Useful TOPSS resources for common teaching challenges.

• National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula
  This document is constructed to guide curriculum decisions by providing content and performance standards for those designing psychology instruction.

• Unit lesson plans
  APA TOPSS provides teachers with unit lesson plans, each containing a content outline, suggested resources and activities, and references.

• Teaching Resources on Skills  
  Three sets of materials are provided for teachers and students, on metacognitive, transferable and well-being skills.

• Sample two-day lesson plans
  Lesson plans and activities submitted by winners of the APA TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broeker Excellence in Teaching Awards.

• Resource manual for new teachers of high school psychology
  This manual provides resources and helpful suggestions to new psychology teachers.

• Resource Vetting Rubric (PDF, 47KB)opens in new window
  This document should be used when vetting resources to use in the high school psychology classroom.

• Teaching Psychology: Where Can I Find Help?
  This resource provides the psychology teacher with a quick reference for needs and questions that arise while preparing to teach the course.

• "Promoting Psychological Science: A Compendium of Laboratory Exercises for Teachers of High School Psychology"opens in new window
  This STP e-book provides lab exercises for most of the topics taught in a high school psychology course. 

• Videos for psychology teachers
  The APA Education Directorate and TOPSS have provided videos for psychology teachers to view and/or use in class as appropriate.

• Pacing calendars
  Samples of actual calendars provided by psychology teachers.

• Classroom posters
  Use these to illustrate the role psychologists play in preventing violence, promoting health and protecting the environment.

• TOPSS Facebook pageopens in new window
  For TOPSS members and those interested in TOPSS news

• TOPSS Listserv
  Join the mailing list to receive periodic news and updates.

• Assessment Guide for Psychology Teachers (PDF, 425KB)opens in new window
  This guide was developed to help teachers continue to build confidence in their assessment skills in order to provide useful feedback to students about their intellectual progress.

• High School Assessment Exemplarsopens in new window
  These vetted assessment exemplars for high school teachers can be used in the introductory psychology class. Teachers can search for the “high school” topic area to find these templates.

• Advocacy Toolkit for the Psychology Teaching Credential
  This guide encourages teachers to advocate for the psychology teaching credential in each state.

• Guidelines for Preparing High School Psychology Teachers: Course-Based and Standards-Based Approaches
  The purpose of these guidelines is to outline training models for the preparation of teachers of high school psychology.

• Talking Points for Advocating Psychology as a Science Course
  How high school psychology meets the criteria of a science course so that states may award STEM credit for psychology coursework.

• Professional development opportunities for high school psychology teachers
  A comprehensive list of professional development at the state, regional and national levels.

• Resource Vetting Rubric (PDF, 47KB)
  opens in new window This document should be used when vetting resources to use in the high school psychology classroom.

• Building, Guiding and Sustaining Regional Networks for Psychology Teachers (PDF, 108KB)opens in new window
  This guide outlines benefits of regional networks, a "how to" starter kit, model formats and suggestions for overcoming obstacles.

• Teaching Psychology: Where Can I Find Help?opens in new window
  This resource provides the psychology teacher with a quick reference for needs and questions that arise while preparing to teach the course.

• APA Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers
  APA’s premier summer workshop for high school psychology teachers in Worcester, MA.

• APA/APF/Oregon State University Psychological Science Workshop for High School Psychology Teachers
  A three-day workshop for high school psychology teachers in Corvallis, OR.

• Considering Diversity: A Self-Reflection Tool for Psychology Teachers
  This resource aims to boost interpersonal and cultural sensitivity in both students and teachers.

• Video on High School Psychology
  High school teachers are invited to use this video to encourage students to enroll in their psychology classes. Teachers can also share the video with students on the first day of class or for a summer or before-semester assignment, with parents during back to school nights, or with school or district administrators and others who may not recognize the value of the high school psychology class.

• STP/APA Presidential Taskforce on Diversity Education (PTDE) Resourcesopens in new window
  This task force compiled annotated bibliographies of teaching resources, including books, book chapters, journal articles, films, websites and other media.

• Toward an Inclusive Psychology: Infusing the Introductory Psychology Textbook with Diversity Content (PDF, 2.2MB)opens in new window
  Suggestions and observations for incorporating diversity issues into each chapter and major topic of a typical introductory psychology textbook.

• APA Public Interest Directorate
  The Public Interest Directorate applied psychology to the fundamental problems of human welfare and social justice and the promotion of equitable and just treatment of all segments of society through education, training and public policy.

• Integrating Technology in the High School Psychology Classroom
  This resource provides technology tools for high school psychology teachers in six categories.

• Videos for psychology teachers
  The APA Education Directorate and TOPSS have provided videos for psychology teachers to view and/or use in class as appropriate.

• Technology Tips & Tricks: Assessment and Engagement
  opens in new window This blog post recommends formative assessment technology tools and mobile apps for the psychology classroom.

• Using Tech Tools in Your High School Psychology Classroom
  opens in new window This blog post recommends social learning technology tools for the psychology classroom.

• Audience Members, Collaborators and Competitors: Technology Tools to Connect
  opens in new window Suggestions of creation technology tools to connect students to the curriculum.

• Technology Tools for Psychology Teachers: How to Take Back Your Time
  opens in new window This blog post provides teacher technology tools for the classroom.

• Using technology to help students understand content and participate in metacognitive skills
  opens in new window This blog post recommends online tech tools for creating interactive lectures, which allow teachers to give direct instruction with built-in quick activities for students to keep them engaged.

• Local/State Groups for Psychology Teachers
  A listing of local, regional or state groups or conferences (workshops) for high school psychology teachers.

• Psychology Awareness Initiative
  Promote awareness of psychology in your school and community.

Newsletters

• Psychology Teacher Network
  PTN is a quarterly newsletter for teachers of introductory psychology.

• Psychology Student Network
  PSN is published twice a year for precollege and undergraduate psychology students.

Magazine

• Monitor on Psychology
  APA’s monthly magazine with current news, articles and research findings in the field of psychology. Sent to all APA members and affiliates.

Journal

• American Psychologist
  APA’s flagship journal; published nine times a year. Included with APA high school teacher affiliate (TOPSS) membership.

• Translational Issues in Psychological Science®
  Each issue focuses on a different topic representing multiple viewpoints on psychological science.

Books

• Activities Handbook for the Teaching of Psychology
  Demonstrations, assignments and experiments to complement psychology course textbooks.

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition
  A complete style manual for writers, editors, students and educators in the social and behavioral sciences.

• Careers in Psychology
  “Psychology: Scientific Problem Solvers — Careers for the 21st Century” booklet and video.

Databases

• Graduate Study Onlineopens in new window

• APA databases for members and affiliates

• High School Psychology Outreach Grants
  The purpose of these grants is to support innovative programs that support networking, professional development and educational outreach opportunities for high school psychology teachers and students.

• BEA Grants for Precollege and Undergraduate Teaching Conferences
  These grants support precollege and undergraduate teaching conferences to enhance the quality of teaching and learning outcomes

Get Your Students Involved

• Why should I take high school psychology?
  This page features a video and information for high school students interested in studying psychology.

• Online Psychology Laboratoryopens in new window
  The OPL website offers students opportunities to participate in studies and engage in data analysis.

• Conducting research with students
  Students learn the practical applications of psychology by participating in a school psychology club or creating experiments for a science fair.

• Psychology clubs
  Many schools offer psychology clubs to provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of the field of psychology.

• APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students
  Annual competition for psychology students. 

• TOPSS Academic Achievement in Psychology Certificates
  To recognize outstanding psychology students. 

• The APA supports student research through the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)opens in new window and through ISEF-affiliated regional science fairs.

• Join APA as a Student Affiliate
  Become a High School Student Affiliate and enjoy many great benefits!

Careers

• Careers in Psychology
  This guide provides a look at psychology as a career in many different fields, such as research, consulting, diagnosing and teaching. It includes an outlook of the current job market and testimonials from psychologists on the career paths they have chosen.

• Career Guides
  Guides to careers in psychology, including a general guide, and guides for high school and college students of color, as well as information on applying to graduate school.