AP Physics Review Sessions
The AP Physics instructors typically hold a review session before most tests in the class.
For further information:
How the Review Session works
In addition to whatever studying students are doing in class or on their own to prepare for an upcoming test, there is often an informal and optional "Review Session" that occurs outside of school hours at an off-campus restaurant location one or two days before the test date. Students who attend these sessions usually get something to eat, and then sit down with others in the class to work on practice problems in preparation for the upcoming test. The AP Physics instructors are almost always present at these events, primarily because we're getting together to eat something ourselves, but we're also available to answer the occasional question from students.
The Review Session is modeled on the informal class discussions that occur at a coffeehouse or pub at college, an opportunity for students to get together to discuss course-related in a setting that is not managed by the instructor.
This is not a school event. There is no formal "review" held by instructors at these times, no attendance is taken, and no special consideration is given to students who attend.
But...?
Not every student wants to attend these sessions, and that's fine. Some students do attend the sessions and don't do any work at all, and that's fine. Some students who might like to attend are unable to attend because of time or transportation constraints, which unfortunately is the case for any event that occurs away from school and outside of school hours.
As always, students who have questions about material covered in the course should reach out to their instructor for assistance. The review session is not a replacement for getting guidance from the instructor; it's simply an opportunity for students to work together in a setting outside of school.
History of the Review Session
The AP Physics Review Session began in Berkeley in 1998 when I was looking for a way to encourage students to review material for an upcoming test. LaVal's Pizza didn't seem to mind a bunch of students coming in and ordering pizza on a Sunday night, so we made it a regular thing. Pretty soon the AP Chemistry teacher, Aaron Glimme, was doing the same thing.
When I came to Polytechnic School in 2004 the tradition came along. At first we held sessions at Shakey's Pizza on Foothill Blvd until they closed down and someone turned it into a "gentleman's club." (Inappropriate comment from a student at the time: "Mr. White, we can still hold our review sessions there, right?") We moved the sessions to Round Table Pizza on Fair Oaks in South Pasadena, but eventually brought things back north to a location closer to school: Chipotle on Lake.
Students who join us are part of a 27-year tradition.
Maybe we'll see you there!