AP® English Literature Teacher Resources

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It’s been said many times before–teachers are superheroes. Unlike the super-human variety we see in movies, AP® Lit teachers do not have access to radioactive spiders or strength-enhancing serums to give them their powers. Instead, they rely on high-quality AP English Literature teacher resources to strengthen their classroom instruction and better support their students. This is exactly why our team of former AP teachers and UWorld Learning Tools for AP Courses authors have compiled a list of quality AP Lit teacher materials for you.

Free Resources for AP English Literature Teachers

The following is our compiled list of free AP English Literature teacher websites. These are great resources you can incorporate into several AP English Literature lesson plans!

Miss Effie Advanced English
  • AP English Literature teacher website that provides lesson plans, prompts, passages, and PowerPoints.
  • Provides files in Word format via DropBox to allow teachers the ability to edit them, as needed.

edHelper.com
  • Online platform with AP Lit worksheets and “no-prep” teaching resources.
  • Includes a vast array of book activities and journal links with corresponding questions.

Bespoke ELA - AP Lit
  • ELA teacher blog with free AP Lit curriculum resources, lessons, and blog posts.
  • Offers a premium “Freebie Library” when educators subscribe to the blog.

AP English Literature and Composition: Study Guide
  • Online AP English Literature teacher guide that walks people through key literature pieces, demonstrating how they could appear on the AP exam.
  • Designed to “reacquaint” educators with the literature they have explored with their students, providing analysis methods that can be used when preparing for the AP English Literature and Composition exam.

Dr. Louise Cowan - Lectures
  • Part of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, this page contains a variety of academic lectures from Dr. Louise Cowan, the famed American critic and teacher.
  • Lectures focus on the analysis of a variety of novels, including The Scarlet Letter and Moby Dick.

Online APSI 2020
  • Part of JerryBrown.com, this site is a great resource for past AP Summer Institute sessions.
  • Provides links to online AP Summer Institutes from 2020.

AP Lit & More
  • AP English Literature website with free creative lessons and teaching ideas for educators.
  • Focuses on collaboration, creativity, and innovation in the ELA classroom.

A Celebration of Women Writers
  • Blog that celebrates women of all ethnicities, locations, and time periods who have made their mark with their writing.
  • Writers and information about their works are categorized by name, date, country, and ethnicity.

CommonLit
  • Nonprofit organization that provides teachers and schools with resources for “top-notch literacy instruction.”
  • Includes a full year of ELA curriculum, assessments, and formative data checks.

Poet Laureate Projects
  • Program created by the Library of Congress to promote poetry and literature, year-round.
  • Produces online and in-person programming, and presents honors and prizes related to poetry and literature.

Miss Effie - A Poem a Day
  • AP English Literature teacher website that provides lesson plans, prompts, passages, and PowerPoints.
  • When teachers sign up for “A Poem a Day,” they are sent daily poetry that can be used as a resource with their students.

Poets.org
  • Part of The Academy of American Poets nonprofit organization, this site is the nation’s “leading champion” of American poets and poetry.
  • Supports American poets at all stages of their artistic journey and fosters the appreciation of poetry.

Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet
  • Online project with the purpose of providing educators with resources related to William Shakespeare and his works.
  • Provides a vast array of Shakespeare-related links, reading materials, quotations, and more.

Other Resources for AP English Literature Teachers

The above list of sites just scratches the surface of the free AP English Lit resources that can be used for instructional supplementation. There are additional ways AP English Literature teachers can strengthen their teaching “toolbox” as well, and some of our favorites are listed below. Please note that, unlike the ones listed in the above section, some of the following resources are not free.

AP Summer Institutes (APSIs)

Each summer, the College Board® offers AP professional development through their AP Summer Institutes. During these summer sessions, teachers develop AP teaching skills and strategies and explore each section of the course and its exam.

AP Online Workshops

For educators who can’t attend in person, the College Board provides online workshops that teach strategies and tools to help AP staff plan and focus their instruction.

Teacher Websites & Communities

There are a variety of social media platforms and websites that provide not only AP English Literature teacher resources, but also a feeling of community. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we do recommend you check out the following:

Other Paid Resources

Here are some additional resources you can incorporate into your AP English Literature lesson plans, as well. These may include a fee, but they offer high-quality supports.

Tips for Finding Quality AP English Literature Resources

When searching for resources to support your AP instruction, it’s important to make sure they are credible. Here are a few ways you can ensure your resources have a high level of quality!

  • Use resources that have been created by experts in their field. AP educators, published journals, and educational resource companies are more reliable than people who do not have strong academic backgrounds. For example, UWorld’s Learning Tools for AP Courses only include materials written by former AP educators and content area experts.
  • Share resources with other educators in your district’s AP network. You can do this within your school, but you can also network with AP teachers elsewhere in your district when you go to professional development sessions in your subject area.
  • Use online versions of textbooks. Many textbooks have these versions that allow teachers to find the resources they need just as easily as on other websites. Furthermore, these digital versions are more reliable than their printed counterparts since they are the most current.

For teachers who want to enhance their AP instruction with a quality resource, UWorld’s Learning Tools for AP Courses is an innovative program that helps students strengthen their understanding of course concepts needed for AP success. Discover how we can help your AP program today.

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