AP testers: I don't give goodie bags or bookmarks, but it's pretty cool if someone does....

 

I don't make my AP English testers personalized goodie bags or cool bookmarks or t-shirts. I did go to Sam's Club and got a variety of 50 bags of chips and Cheetos this weekend and an enormous bag of candy. I'll get some  mandarins to make it legit. So I get them snacks.

I think it's cool when people give their kids more than treats. I think this is the first year I realized that--before I would be frustrated when I saw people sharing online what they had made or bought for their testers. But, duh, it's definitely fine and good when teachers do that. Maybe t-shirts create a sense of bonding; bookmarks and treat bags  add a level of fun to the exam experience or acknowledge the importance of the long journey to the AP Lit test.  

Of course, please don't feel bad if you didn't get anything for your AP English testers. Hell's bells--you've given each of them HOURS of your time and put so much effort into their success. But if you go all out and make personalized pots for little plants with AP terms painted on the sides--they'll probably like that! Just feel good. Hopefully we all feel pretty good by tomorrow afternoon--or at least relieved.

AP exams are an event and a closure. I think we really come to a close with things in different ways---basically the way we need to.  If you would have appreciated a gift or a goodie bag or a t-shirt, that is probably what you want to give them.  Mine get potato chips, some tootsie rolls, and a clementine. (Snacks are apparently important to me.)

I hope your students do well on the test! Great job to you, just saying. I'm sure you've worked your arse off helping them get ready.  I did have one boy tell me he's excited about taking the test. That's all I need. (Well, I do need them to tear it up on that exam, too, please. Ha!)  I'm going to go eat a few tootsie rolls and grade some AP LANG essays--another week for them~. Good luck to all!!!!