MR. HAGERMAN – AP CALCULUS
COURSE GOALS There are two goals for every student in this class. The first goal is to spend the time necessary to master the concepts of calculus. This will enable each student to achieve an ‘A’ in this course and will also prepare the student for the calculus series of courses in college or any course requiring a prerequisite of calculus. Anything less will result in a lower grade in this class and being less prepared for college calculus. The second goal is for each student to pass the AP Calculus examination. It is recommended that each student take the test regardless of your course status. The test will be given during the first part of May.
CLASS PROCEDURE This course will be treated as a college course and has the following prerequisite to enroll: each student has successfully completed a pre-calculus course by earning a B or better grade. Students who earn a C grade in pre-calculus may still enroll based on teacher recommendation, but the decision to take this class should not be taken lightly. Under no circumstance can a student enroll in Calculus without passing a pre-calculus course with a grade of C or better.
A new topic will be introduced almost every day and homework will be assigned most days. Some students may need to spend several hours on homework to master the concepts. Only one homework assignment will be collected for every 5 or 6 assigned (the selection will be random). The homework assignment selected will be graded on an effort to do the problem correctly, appropriate work shown, and completeness. I encourage students to work together on homework assignments. No credit will be given for any late assignments. We will cover material in chapters 1 – 9 in our textbook for this course, and a test will be given every 2 to 3 weeks.
By the end of February, all relative topics to the course will have been covered, and the remainder of time will be spent ‘putting it all together’ and preparing for the AP test. This course will focus on the ‘AB’ Calculus exam. I will provide released sample test questions from previous AP tests and other problems during the review time. Every student is required to take a practice test outside of regular class time under similar conditions of the AP test. The practice test will be part of the course grade for the second semester and will take approximately 4 hours to complete. It will be given on one weekend day in April. A weekday afternoon in April may be chosen as another option for this test.
A graphing calculator is required. The TI-83 or TI-84 model is a good choice. I will be demonstrating calculus concepts using a TI-83 Plus graphing calculator. If acquiring a calculator is a financial hardship, I have a limited selection of calculators that can be checked out. Students assume responsibility for the calculator and are financially obligated if the calculator is lost, stolen, or damaged.
GRADING POLICY The first two quarters will be based on seven unit scores. The first unit consists of the summer worksheets and a test on chapter 1. The other 6 units are divided up with a test counting 90%, and homework and quizzes counting 10%. There will be a final at the end of the first semester. This will be averaged in at approximately 20% to 40% to determine your first semester grade.
The third quarter will be based on 2 unit scores, tests counting 90%, homework counting 10%. That quarter accounts for 20% of your semester grade. Starting in March, there will be a series of daily quizzes that will account for 30% of your semester grade. The remaining 50% will be divided up with the aforementioned AP practice test (35%) and a video project (15%).
The letter grade for this class will be based on the following:
90% to 100% = A, 80% to 89% = B, 65% to 79% = C, 55% to 69% = D, below 55% = F
Tests will be graded on a straight scale. An accountability bonus will be added to each unit test. Anyone who takes the test after the scheduled test date will take an alternate version and will not receive any bonus.
The bonus may also be partially lost for other reasons including, but not limited to, being tardy to class or truant, missing an excessive amount of class time, and wasting class time.
EXTRA HELP There are several sites online for help and extra review. I will also be available for personalized help during the year. Dates and times will be announced in advanced. After February, the review sessions for the AP exam and final will occur during class time so that you will have time to spend on your other AP classes outside of normal school hours. If you need to reach me, you can email me at [email protected]
COURSE GOALS There are two goals for every student in this class. The first goal is to spend the time necessary to master the concepts of calculus. This will enable each student to achieve an ‘A’ in this course and will also prepare the student for the calculus series of courses in college or any course requiring a prerequisite of calculus. Anything less will result in a lower grade in this class and being less prepared for college calculus. The second goal is for each student to pass the AP Calculus examination. It is recommended that each student take the test regardless of your course status. The test will be given during the first part of May.
CLASS PROCEDURE This course will be treated as a college course and has the following prerequisite to enroll: each student has successfully completed a pre-calculus course by earning a B or better grade. Students who earn a C grade in pre-calculus may still enroll based on teacher recommendation, but the decision to take this class should not be taken lightly. Under no circumstance can a student enroll in Calculus without passing a pre-calculus course with a grade of C or better.
A new topic will be introduced almost every day and homework will be assigned most days. Some students may need to spend several hours on homework to master the concepts. Only one homework assignment will be collected for every 5 or 6 assigned (the selection will be random). The homework assignment selected will be graded on an effort to do the problem correctly, appropriate work shown, and completeness. I encourage students to work together on homework assignments. No credit will be given for any late assignments. We will cover material in chapters 1 – 9 in our textbook for this course, and a test will be given every 2 to 3 weeks.
By the end of February, all relative topics to the course will have been covered, and the remainder of time will be spent ‘putting it all together’ and preparing for the AP test. This course will focus on the ‘AB’ Calculus exam. I will provide released sample test questions from previous AP tests and other problems during the review time. Every student is required to take a practice test outside of regular class time under similar conditions of the AP test. The practice test will be part of the course grade for the second semester and will take approximately 4 hours to complete. It will be given on one weekend day in April. A weekday afternoon in April may be chosen as another option for this test.
A graphing calculator is required. The TI-83 or TI-84 model is a good choice. I will be demonstrating calculus concepts using a TI-83 Plus graphing calculator. If acquiring a calculator is a financial hardship, I have a limited selection of calculators that can be checked out. Students assume responsibility for the calculator and are financially obligated if the calculator is lost, stolen, or damaged.
GRADING POLICY The first two quarters will be based on seven unit scores. The first unit consists of the summer worksheets and a test on chapter 1. The other 6 units are divided up with a test counting 90%, and homework and quizzes counting 10%. There will be a final at the end of the first semester. This will be averaged in at approximately 20% to 40% to determine your first semester grade.
The third quarter will be based on 2 unit scores, tests counting 90%, homework counting 10%. That quarter accounts for 20% of your semester grade. Starting in March, there will be a series of daily quizzes that will account for 30% of your semester grade. The remaining 50% will be divided up with the aforementioned AP practice test (35%) and a video project (15%).
The letter grade for this class will be based on the following:
90% to 100% = A, 80% to 89% = B, 65% to 79% = C, 55% to 69% = D, below 55% = F
Tests will be graded on a straight scale. An accountability bonus will be added to each unit test. Anyone who takes the test after the scheduled test date will take an alternate version and will not receive any bonus.
The bonus may also be partially lost for other reasons including, but not limited to, being tardy to class or truant, missing an excessive amount of class time, and wasting class time.
EXTRA HELP There are several sites online for help and extra review. I will also be available for personalized help during the year. Dates and times will be announced in advanced. After February, the review sessions for the AP exam and final will occur during class time so that you will have time to spend on your other AP classes outside of normal school hours. If you need to reach me, you can email me at [email protected]