Capturing Student Understanding with Canva
Sarah English | Fri, 08/29/2025 - 15:04
Lead Contributor, Sarah English, outlines how she uses Canva (free for educators) to capture student ideas and misconceptions.
Blogs
Analysis of Mistakes and Misconceptions from the 2025 AP Chemistry Exam
Michael Farabaugh | Fri, 08/29/2025 - 11:14
In this blog, AP Exam reader Michael Farabaugh breaks down common misconceptions and mistakes from the 2025 AP Chemistry Exam.
Magnesium Citrate: Synthesis of a Pharmaceutical Compound at Time of Use
David Cash | Fri, 08/29/2025 - 10:28
This post offers a case study of magnesium citrate used as a pharmaceutical. How does adding a dry white powder to water form aqueous magnesium citrate? To understand what occurs requires students to name chemical compounds, balance chemical equations, calculate theoretical yields, limiting and excess reagents, and use elemental percentage composition. A student question set is available as a resource.
Five for the First - Part II
Nora Walsh | Tue, 08/26/2025 - 08:44
In this, the second installment of "Five for the First", Nora Walsh shares five simple activities for the first few weeks of school to help build her classroom culture.
An Empirically-Based and Logical Approach to Teaching the Oxidation Number Concept
Michael Jansen | Sun, 08/24/2025 - 12:32
Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) reactions, also referred to as electron-transfer reactions, are common. So common, in fact, that four of the five general reaction types studied in Honors Chemistry involve the transfer of electrons. In this post, lead contributor Michael Jansen outlines three approaches to teaching electron transfer and Redox reactions.
Strategic Shifts: Small Moves Leading to Meaningful Change
Erica Posthuma | Thu, 07/31/2025 - 13:40
The second installment of our (Re)Bootcamp includes three different examples of ways you can implement new approaches without having to redesign your entire curriculum.
Five Practical Tips for Working with English Learners in the Chemistry Classroom
Blake Baxter | Sun, 07/27/2025 - 19:23
This post outlines five simple and effective strategies for teaching English learners in the Chemistry classroom.
A Knowledge of Electrolysis Thwarts a Scam
Michael Jansen | Sun, 07/27/2025 - 11:55
This post describes an engaging, thought-provoking capstone activity for the Redox/Electrochemistry unit in AP Chemistry1. It may be used as a homework assignment, a collaborative in-class assignment, or as a challenging test or exam question.2 It can also be used as a hands-on and MINDS-ON laboratory activity or teacher demonstration.