APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools - TOPSS

08/13/2020

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Tea with TOPSS and Dr. Elizabeth Loftus. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

We are excited to hold the second Tea with TOPSS event tonight (8/13) with Dr. Elizabeth Loftus! The hour-long talk will start at 6:00 PM eastern, 3:00 PM pacific. This event is for TOPSS members; if you are not a member but want to register, you can join TOPSS here: https://on.apa.org/3fVFX0L. For more on Dr. Loftus and these virtual conversations, see https://on.apa.org/2C6nArV.

TOPSS members are invited to join the APA TOPSS Committee for an hour-long conversation with Elizabeth Loftus, PhD. The conversation will begin with a brief interview and then TOPSS members will have the opportunity to ask questions. Members are encouraged to submit questions below, to be read to Dr...

08/12/2020

On the first "Tea with TOPSS" someone asked about how we can infuse diversity into our curriculum. This is Carolyn Attneave, who founded the Society of Indian Psychology (SIP). The mission of SIP is to provide an organization for Native American indigenous people to advocate for the mental well-being of Native peoples by increasing the knowledge and awareness of issues impacting Native mental health. Dr. Attneave was undoubtedly the most well-known psychologist of American Indian background and was internationally renowned for her expertise in cross-cultural topics in counseling and psychotherapy and for her pioneering work to extend family therapy to include the social network of the identified client. Family Networks: Retribalization and Healing (1973, coauthored with Ross Speck) is considered the most comprehensive and significant presentation of social network therapy for families. The text has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Swedish, Dutch, and German. In 1976, She served on the Special Panel on Access and Barriers to Mental Health Services and the Special Panel on American Indian Mental Health for the President's Commission on Mental Health. Additionally, she was invited to the White House Conference on Families during Presidents Jimmy Carter's and Ronald Reagan's administrations. Dr. Attneave participated in other important conferences that significantly altered and strengthened graduate training programs in psychology. You can find more resources on American Indian and Alaskan Native psychologists and psychology here https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/american-indian. Source: https://www.aiansip.org/

#psychologistsareeverywhere

08/11/2020

On the first "Tea with TOPSS" someone asked about how we can infuse diversity into our curriculum. Meet Dr. Tsz Lun (Alan) Chu! Dr. Chu’s primary areas of expertise are psychosocial aspects of sport, exercise, and health. Specifically, he conducts both quantitative and qualitative research on the roles of social agents (e.g., coaches, parents, peers) in motivation for youth sport and physical activity -- see https://on.apa.org/2PAX1yl. Dr. Chu is also a sport psychology consultant who works with athletes and coaches, from high school to professional levels across sports, on mental skills training including goal setting and visualization. To practice what he preaches, Dr. Chu is physically active and highly involved in sports, specializing in table tennis (not the basement “ping pong”!) as a competitive player and an internationally certified coach. He currently serves on the coaching committee of the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and teaches the coaching certification course. Learn more about Dr. Chu here https://www.uwgb.edu/psychology/faculty-staff/faculty-staff/alan-chu/ or follow him on Twitter here https://twitter.com/DrAlanChu.

#psychologistsareeverywhere

08/10/2020

This Thursday, 8/13, we are holding our second Tea with TOPSS with Dr. Elizabeth Loftus! The hour-long free conversation (6:00 PM eastern, 3:00 PM) will give TOPSS members the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Dr. Loftus and her research. A registration link has been sent to current TOPSS members. Please email us at [email protected] or comment below if you have not gotten this invitation. For a bio (and a video of our July talk with Dr. Phil Zimbardo), please see https://on.apa.org/2C6nArV

08/06/2020

APA 2020 Agenda - APA Convention 2020

APA 2020 opens at 10:30 am eastern this morning! Did you know that if you are not a current TOPSS member, you can get a free membership (through Dec. 2021) if you register? Visit the “Join APA for Free” section of the Membership Pavilion during APA 2020 to find the free application for nonmember attendees of APA 2020: https://pages.apa.org/apa2020-membership-pavilion/

We hope you'll watch the 2 TOPSS sessions (https://on.apa.org/3fqg0WX), and you can choose from over 3,000 more, along with live events this weekend. TOPSS members can register for just $15 and everything will be available through August 2021.

Be sure to check out a list of APA’s live programming and the Attendee Guide for more information.

Attendee Guide (including orientations): https://convention.apa.org/attend/attendee-guide

Scheduled sessions, including:
Main Stage sessions on The Psychological Toll of COVID, Leading in a Crisis, and The Science of Racism and Backstage Passes (conversations that run in the evening): https://convention.apa.org/main-stage-events

Featured Speakers including Keynoters and Invited Science Lectures: https://convention.apa.org/attend/keynotes

Agenda of scheduled sessions is here: https://convention.apa.org/agenda

On-demand sessions:
Sessions, symposia, etc:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/a5ea5d51/files/uploaded/2020-APA-Convention_OnDemandIndex_Sessions.pdf

Posters:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/a5ea5d51/files/uploaded/2020-APA-Convention_OnDemandIndex_Posters.pdf

Join the American Psychological Association online for the APA 2020 Convention, August 6-9. View the agenda and learn about continuing education (CE) workshops and sessions, events, and networking.

08/05/2020

At the first "Tea with TOPSS" discussion, a member asked about how psychology teachers in high schools can enrich the curriculum with diverse voices. Meet Dr. Kim Balsam, Chair, Department of Psychology, Professor, Director of the LGBTQ Area of Emphasis, Director of the Center for LGBTQ Evidence-Based Applied Research (CLEAR) at Palo Alto University. Read more about the RISE lab here https://on.apa.org/2EFckUk.

Dr. Balsam’s research focuses broadly on the health and well-being of stigmatized populations, with an emphasis on ethnically diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and queer people. You can learn more about Dr. Balsam here https://www.paloaltou.edu/faculty/kimberly-balsam from her website.

08/04/2020

APA 2020 Agenda - APA Convention 2020

APA 2020 starts this Thursday and TOPSS members can register for just $15! APA 2020 will be fully virtual this year and registering will give you access to thousands of sessions on-demand through August 1, 2021.

As we head into an uncertain 2020-2021 school year, having access to thousands of quality videos on a wide variety of topics is an opportunity you don't want to miss. Whether you will be teaching virtually or in-person, these videos can be used directly in your classes and can help inform your teaching. Sessions of special interest to you might include:

~APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) Invited Addresses (https://on.apa.org/3fqg0WX)
~Sessions sponsored by the APA Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education (https://on.apa.org/3fxCwxb)
~The APF Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award Address presented by Linda Woolf, PhD (Journey for Human Rights and Social Justice: One Psychology Lesson at a Time)
~Sessions sponsored by Psi Chi or Psi Beta
~Other sessions for educators (https://on.apa.org/33lDKcj)
~APA main stage conversation on the Psychology of Racism
(https://on.apa.org/3gwjzw8)
~And many more

Later this year we will host a watch party to watch and disucss some of these sessions together, and we will later be sharing a watch list too. We hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity.

Join the American Psychological Association online for the APA 2020 Convention, August 6-9. View the agenda and learn about continuing education (CE) workshops and sessions, events, and networking.

08/03/2020

At the first "Tea with TOPSS" discussion, a member asked about how psychology teachers in high schools can enrich the curriculum with diverse voices. Meet Dr. Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, the 2019 APA President. Dr. Davis is a professor at the University of Memphis and has research interests in poverty and gun violence. You can follow Dr. Davis on Twitter here https://twitter.com/tigerbingham?lang=en or read more here https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/11/rosie-phillips-bingham.

Here's a short video on the APA's deep poverty initiative https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTv2tB6fjAI or here is the initiative's webpage: https://on.apa.org/2TPDRt9

08/01/2020

On the first "Tea with TOPSS" someone asked how teachers can highlight the contributions of diverse psychologists in HS classes. Meet Dr. Antonio Puente. Born in Cuba and the 2017 APA president, Dr. Puente is a private practice therapist, founding director of a bilingual mental health clinic, and a psychology faculty at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.You can read about him at https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/05/pc or on his website at http://antonioepuente.com/. You can follow him on Twitter to hear more here https://twitter.com/AEPuentePhD.

For more great researchers whose work you can use in class see https://on.apa.org/30eocFc. Or you can read this classic book https://on.apa.org/3fgE5zf.

#psychologistsareeverywhere

07/31/2020

Digital or analog, remote or in-person: Thinking matters

"Teachers should set up learning situations that increase the chances that students will do the kinds of thinking in working memory that will help move information and skills into long term memory and be able to recall the information and skills when they need to." - Former TOPSS chair Rob McEntarffer, in the lastest PTN, out this week! For the full issue, see https://on.apa.org/39EjG64

Strategies for fostering long term, transferable learning.

07/30/2020

On the first Tea with TOPSS someone asked how teachers can highlight the contributions of diverse psychologists in HS classes. Meet Dr. Carl Hart, Columbia University researcher. You can read about him at https://on.apa.org/2X7OMhi, or follow him on twitter @drcarlhart!

For more great researchers whose work you can use in class see https://on.apa.org/30eocFc. Or you can read this classic book https://on.apa.org/3fgE5zf.

#psychologistsareeverywhere

07/28/2020

TOPSS High School Psychology Course Template available in Canvas

TOPSS is very happy to share that the TOPSS High School Psychology Course Template in Canvas has been updated and is now available for teachers to use! This resource was developed for teachers by teachers and provides instructors with resources to use to develop student assignments. The updated template has new sections of teacher resources along with new resources and videos for students. A video is available on how to access and use the template. Thanks to Heather Chambers and Josh White for their work to update this resource!

This teaching resource for high school psychology teachers includes many content specific, peer-reviewed resources, videos, and formative assessments organized by the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula.

07/27/2020

We're excited for the first Tea with TOPSS conversation with Dr. Phil Zimbardo today at noon PT, 3:00 eastern! If you registered for the event, you should have been sent a registration link to join. If you weren't able to register, we plan on posting a video of the talk online soon. We hope to hold a few more of these conversations this summer! If you have suggestions for other guest speakers, please let us know below, or email [email protected].

07/23/2020

Keynotes at APA 2020 - APA Convention 2020

Don't forget - TOPSS members can register for APA for just $15! Main stage and keynote speakers include Tarana Burke, Adam Grant, Ali Mattu, Jonathan Haidt and more. TOPSS is sponsoring two speakers (Steve Chew on effective study skills and Matthew Thompson on suicide) and STP has posted their APA listing here: https://on.apa.org/2WHTToc. $15 gives you access to hundreds of sessions through August 2021. APA will be virtual this year.

Learn about the keynote speakers at APA 2020, the American Psychological Association's premier annual event for psychology.

07/08/2020

SAVE THE DATE! TOPSS is excited to announce a "Tea with TOPSS" virtual conversation with Dr. Phil Zimbardo and TOPSS members on Monday, July 27 at 3:00 PM eastern, noon pacific time. Registration information will be shared soon. We hope you can join us for an hour-long conversation with the opportunity to ask questions.

In the meantime, Dr. Zimbardo will be presenting in a SEPARATE free webinar THIS FRIDAY, July 10, at 10 a.m. PT, 1 p.m. eastern. The July 10 webinar is sponsored by Palo Alto University is open to the general public; you can register here: https://on.apa.org/3gGCAv8. The topic will be Zimbardo’s Systemic Engagement program: Supporting our world at this time of need. The July 10 webinar is not affiliated with TOPSS.

07/02/2020

APA TOPSS Diversity Statement and Action Plan

We have included this TOPSS diversity statement and action plan in each TOPSS agenda book since 2011 but have just recently posted this online for all TOPSS members and friends to see. We want to live up to this statement and action plan and welcome feedback.

American Psychological Association Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) is committed to inclusion and respect for all.

07/01/2020

APA Convention 2020 - American Psychological Association

APA 2020 will be virtual this year and TOPSS members can register for the entire meeting for just $15!! Join us online August 6-8 for main stage events on the psychology of racism and hate (and more), keynote sessions, sessions for educators, sessions on the latest scientific research, and more! TOPSS will sponsor 2 talks during APA: Stephen Chew presenting on effective study skills and Matthew Thompson presenting on suicide. Attendees will also receive 12 months of on-demand access to hundreds of sessions. We hope you'll join us!

Join the American Psychological Association online for the APA 2020 Convention, August 6-9

06/24/2020

PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff: E095: Utah Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools: The Professional Care and Academic Feeding of High School Teachers

In the latest PsychSessions podcast, learn the backstory of the Utah Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (UTOPSS), and how this group of statewide leaders has been serving high school psychology teachers in Utah for more than two decades. For more on regional networks of HS psychology teachers (including a how-to guide on starting or maintaining a regional group), see https://on.apa.org/2GzyoiP.

In this episode Garth interviewed the folks from UTOPSS, the Utah Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools, including Kristin Whitlock from David High School (H.S.) in Kaysville, UT, Pam Coburn from Fremont H.S. in Plain City, UT, Annette Nielsen from Woods Cross H.S. in Woods Cross, UT, and Bob....

06/22/2020

10 Exciting Psychology Books for Your Summer Reading List — Psych Learning Curve

Here are some recommendations for good psychology books to read this summer -- and the TOPSS chair also suggests these books too:

White Privilege by Robin DiAngelo
How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
White Rage by Carol Anderson
The History of White People by Nell Irving Painter
Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt

The school year is over, and it is time to rest and reinvigorate! Below is a list fascinating books for psychology teachers this summer which...

06/18/2020

2020 TOPSS Committee Call for Nominations

In 2020 TOPSS members will elect two members-at-large and one chair-elect. The deadline for submitting nominations for the committee ballot is July 15. TOPSS is especially interested in encouraging individuals in all locations and from diverse backgrounds (including diversity in race/ethnicity, gender, ability/disability, sexual orientation, age and religion) to consider running for TOPSS office.

Learn more about being involved with the APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS).

06/17/2020

Connecting the Dots: How Race in America's Classrooms Affects Achievement

In 2012 Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD, gave a presentation for TOPSS at the APA convention on why honest conversations about race are important in the classroom. She discussed strategies for teachers to consider to reduce stereotype threat and increase trust in cross-racial interactions. You can find this video (and many others) online at https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/videos-teachers.

In this invited address, Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD, president of Spelman College, discusses why honest conversations about race are important, especially as ...