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Big Ideas, Small Texts: Flash Fiction in AP® Literature

March 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm CDT

The standing-room-only presentation from the 2025 AP® Annual Conference is now a free Teacher Talk. Join these three experienced Literature teachers as they explore how flash fiction can strengthen close reading, line of reasoning, and evidence-based writing in AP® Literature. Learn how compact texts can create low-risk, high-engagement opportunities for students to practice analysis of character, structure, and figurative language while building transferable skills for unfamiliar passages and longer works. Walk away with practical, classroom-ready strategies aligned to the AP® Literature framework and exclusive access to published materials built around flash fiction.

Scroll below to meet the facilitators.

Facilitator: Dr. Brandon Abdon 

Dr. Brandon Abdon is a former English teacher who has been doing instructional design, school coaching, and professional development around the intersection of composition, literacy, literature, pedagogy, and technology for over a decade. A fellow of the National Writing Project, Brandon believes in the power of writing daily in the classroom.  He also knows that all students have a path to literacy when engaged and challenged suitably.  He likes to read and play sports but does both of them slowly and only one of them well. He has been married to his brilliant wife, Angela, since 2008 and has two sons, Hilton and Dorian.

He has consulted for or served in some capacity with a number of organizations, including the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Writing Project, the Bluegrass Writing Project, the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English, the National Math-Science Initiative, and others.  In addition to consulting and professional development, he has been on staff with the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program and Savvas K-12 Learning Services (Formerly Pearson K-12 Learning Services).  While at the College Board, he led the development of the current course and exam descriptions for both Advanced Placement English courses, including creation of course skills, revision of exam guidelines, and the development of analytical scoring.

Along with experience in an array of organizations, he holds advanced degrees in both English and Education - including a Doctorate in English Pedagogy - and certification as both a teacher and an administrator.  During his full-time work in high school classrooms, he was recognized with the National Council of Teachers of English “High School Teacher of Excellence” award in 2010.  He has also worked at the University of Kentucky and Georgia State University teaching courses including English Composition 1, Introduction to Literature, Literature for Teachers, Composition for Teachers, and others.

Facilitator: Ryan Hale

Ryan Hale has been teaching English in Kentucky for the past 25 years.  Courses have included AP Literature, AP Language, AP Seminar, AP Research, Dual Credit Communications I and II, and regular English grades 9-12. He has been an AP Reader and Early Table Leader for Literature and also serves as a Sample Selector and Question Leader for The Reading. He is presenting the Master Series with AP Lit Chief Reader Steve Price under the auspices of Advance Kentucky again this year. Ryan is also a consultant and mentor for Advance Kentucky and has led mock exam readings and teacher trainings all over the US, including Indiana, New York, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas.  Outside of work, Ryan enjoys time with his family, dogs, cooking, gardening, live music, and games.

Facilitator: Clair Antoon-Newton

Clair Antoon-Newton is an educator and new teacher mentor for El Dorado High School. With ten years of classroom experience, she has taught AP Literature for the last eight years. She also works as an adjunct English instructor for South Ark College.

She has served for several years as an AP Reader, a Table Leader for the Arkansas AAIMS Mock Reading, and recently as a panelist on the AP Literature Standard Setting Panel.

 

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