The APA Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) is the voice of high school psychology teachers within APA. TOPSS members and other high school teachers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the following new or updated resources.
- This new videoopens in new window highlights many of the valuable resources TOPSS provides and explains how TOPSS is a professional learning community for high school psychology teachers.
- A PowerPoint presentation (PDF 2.1MB)opens in new window is available from a May 2024 TOPSS webinar on teaching resources.
- This resource vetting rubric (PDF 80KB)opens in new window was updated last year, and can be used to assure quality control for classroom resources.
- Free TOPSS unit lesson plans are available on cognition, gender, I/O psychology, positive psychology, and stress and health. New lesson plans are pending publication. And, remember there are also free 2-day lesson plans available from award-winning teachers, including recently posted lessons on Research Method Application: Interviews (PDF, 60KB)opens in new window from Caitlyn Homol and Good Times (Biological Bases of Behavior) (PDF, 338KB)opens in new window from Martin Hyatt, our 2024 APA TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broeker Excellence in Teaching Award recipients.
- This APA webpage on the value of the high school psychology class has been updated. This site includes a great video featuring student and teacher testimonials about the course and provides information on topics students learn in psychology, how psychology can help students study better, how psychology can help students learn about and cope with stress, types of high school psychology courses, common myths about psychology, psychology-related careers, career videos, information on honor societies and publications for high school students, and ways for students to get involved and learn more about psychology.
TOPSS always encourages teachers to use the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula in class planning. Many resources are available to help teachers use these curriculum standards, including a new TOPSS project that aims to broaden representation and diversity in the high school curriculum.
The TOPSS Committee continues to review existing materials and update them as needed. TOPSS is currently working to update a handbook for new teachers of high school psychology and collect updated pacing calendars for the website.
Please contact TOPSS chair Virginia Welle or Emily Leary Chesnes in the APA Education Directorate with any questions or suggestions.
