AP Calculus AB

1. AP Calculus AB Mr. Goodrich’s Class bgoodrich@saintjoehigh.com

2. Guiding Principle Never turn away a student who wants to learn • Questions are always welcome • I’m here 7:30 to 4:30 most days (especially starting in October) and always welcome a student coming by for extra help • Late work is accepted, but there are penalties (reduced score) • Any actions that discourage others from participating (such as mocking other students) is a punishable offense

3. Casual Professionalism I take my job and this class very serious, but not myself Generally a laid-back environment Questions, comments, suggestions are encouraged Jokes are welcome as long as they aren’t mean-spirited • We work everyday • We work very hard • HW is usually challenging • I don’t curve tests & quizzes… the final sometimes gets one • If you retake a test, the second grade replaces the first whether it’s higher or lower • Every week I expect you to be smarter than you were the week before.

4. Calculus is a New Level of Math • 4,000 years ago the Egyptians and Babylonians were using forms of algebra and geometry. • Calculus as a subject wasn’t discovered until 350 years ago • It’s much more abstract than what you’ve seen before • You will need to work hard When learning is harder, it’s stronger and lasts longer

5. Work Hard and Efficiently • You may see some peers doing better than you but not working as hard: there’s 3 explanations: • A) they are actually working very hard at home when you’re not around • B) They only have to learn calculus, while you have to learn calculus, algebra, geometry & trig • C) They’re working more efficiently • If you space out in class, give up easily on the homework, socialize/game when I give you time to work… then you can study for hours for the test and maybe you’ll get a C.

6. Work Hard and Efficiently • Write notes down in a paper notebook • Typing examples like takes too long • Participate: • Ask Questions • Volunteer Solutions even if you think you’re wrong • No one in the history of the world has been taunted by peers because they used the power rule instead of the exponential rule when applying a derivative to a known function. • Being publically wrong creates a stronger memory than being privately wrong so you’re more likely to remember the correct solution.

7. Work Hard and Efficiently • Use time at the end of class for homework from this class • While in class you have peers to help you that you may not have at home. • I’m here in class and able to answer your questions • Don’t assume you don’t have any questions until you’ve tried a problem on your own. Following me do a problem during lecture and doing one on your own are not the same. • When we hit chapter 3, MAKE FLASHCARDS

8. Work Hard and Efficiently • When I go over homework problems, correct your mistakes and make mental notes. • When studying, don’t just look at solutions. Actually redo problems, or better yet, do new problems. • I’m here 7:30 to 4:30 everyday starting in October. If you’re getting a C, you should be coming in for extra help. • B students, it couldn’t hurt you either.

9. Quitter’s Attitude • I used to say I’m bad at memorization to explain why I consistently did poorly on vocabulary tests. • But I did drama, and never forgot a lineduring a production. • Truth is I just didn’t like memorization, so I avoided it. I never spent even half the time learning vocab that I did towards learning lines. • 15 students dropped Calculus at the semester break last year, only 2 of which came in regularly for help… do better

10. Sometimes the only way to know what to do is to first learn what not to do • Never leave a question blank, try something. • When you cannot solve a problem, try another tactic: work backward, make a table, consider a special case, draw a picture, or solve a simpler related problem. • On the Calc AP Exam, a blank answer is the same as a wrong answer • It’s ok to fail if you learn from your mistakes • Turn a 60% quiz grade into a 90% test grade • Perseverance!

11. Typical Day • I walk around checking homework • HW is graded based on effort & completion. • Pray: unless there’s an all school prayer that period • As a class we’ll go over the HW • This will take the whole period for some sections • Notes: they are posted online, but you’ll learn better if you write down the notes in class • 5-10 minutes at end to start next HW

12. Typical Block Day • HW check • Pray • HW Review • Notes • 30 minutes of class work • Review class work problems as a class • 5-10 minutes to start HW

13. Grading System: Points Based • HW: 5 pts (about 10 per chapter), effort based • Not done at start of class then it’s late • Up to a week late it is worth 4/5 • After the chapter test work is worth 3/5 • Optional if Absent • Mini-Quiz: 5 points, focused on speed over difficulty • Quiz: 20 pts (about weekly), most no calculator • Test: 100 pts, (2-3 per quarter), most no calc. • Extra Credit: • IML: 6 per year, 7:30 to 8:00, MUST arrive by 7:45 1 pt taking it + 1 pt for each correct answer

14. Grading System • Semester Grade: 40% each quarter & 20% final • Spring Final is Cumulative (covers both semesters) • Seniors Exempt from Spring Final if have 90% average for quarters 3 & 4 • Highest Grade at the end of the year signs the Goodrich Cup

15. Tests & Quizzes • Most tests and quizzes will be no-calculator • You really need to know your algebra and to do it without a calculator • Order of Operations • Simplify and Manipulate Fractions • Factor and FOIL • Exponent & Log Laws • Find x-intercepts, asymptotes, domain, range • Find intersection between two curves • Graph linear, quadratic, xn, rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic, and trig functions

16. Tests & Quizzes • Most tests and quizzes will be no-calculator • Geometry is also needed to a lesser degree • Perimeter & Circumference • Pythagorean Theorem • Area: triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, circle • Volume: pyramid, prism, cone, cylinder, sphere • Units used to measure each • Trig is very important too, but we’ll have a trig review in the spring • You keep graded tests & quizzes

17. Grading Comments • WARNING: Grading comments may be sarcastic • Described as sassy by some • Common Examples: “Really?” “?” “Noooo… so close” • FT = Follow Through: you did part A wrong but correctly used that answer to your method to find part B • BA = Bad Algebra • I often get wordy in comments so it may appear to be a lot of red for a B

18. Classroom Procedures • All notes, HW, quizzes and tests are posted on the website. • All quizzes, tests and work that is handed in goes in the white bin. • The black bin with your class on it has graded work that’s going back to you. • Only 1 student allowed out of the room for the bathroom at a time • Laptops will be used very little • Be respectful towards each other

19. Course Calendar • 6 chapters, each chapter is harder than the previous • Finish learning new material by spring break • From spring break until May 4th we study for the AP exam. AP Exam May 5th • Those of you not taking the AP exam, remember studying for the AP exam is basically the same as studying for the final • May 6thto End of Year: Project & Study for Final. There will be multiple topics to choose from that are either enrichment or review.

20. AP Exam • Exam: • Multiple Choice: 55 min 28Q No Calculator • Multiple Choice: 50 min 17Q Calculator • Free-Response Q: 30 min 2Q Calculator • Free-Response Q: 60 min 4Q No Calculator • Possible Scores: 1-5, 3 is passing but… • Notre Dame: 5 for Calculus Credit • IU & Purdue: 3 for Generic Math Credits 4 or 5 for Calculus Credit • Rose-Hulman: 4 or 5 for Calculus Credit