AP Calculus BC

AP Calculus BC Overview

AP Calculus BC is a demanding course that requires students to investigate ideas and use a variety of skills and concepts to solve problems. Analytic, graphic and numeric techniques are explored and students learn to recognize which method or methods are viable and should be used to find the solution. Explaining results and methods of solution

is vital to demonstrating understanding and an answer could require a diagram, an algebraic-type proof, or a written explanation. Recognizing answers in a variety of forms is 

also essential to success in AP Calculus. Graphing calculators will provide a powerful tool with which we will explore relationships.

      Grading:

10% HW / 20% Quizzes / 70% Tests. HW’s will be graded for completion/effort (legitimately trying to work each problem). Homework is due 

at the beginning of each class. DO NOT TURN HW IN ON GOOGLE CLASSROOM UNLESS YOU ARE ABSENT OR TURNING IN LATE WORK!!

      Late Homework:

Students can turn in no more than 2 late assignments each grading period for a grade of 90, but they must be complete or they will remain a 

"one" in the grade book. Late assignments must also be turned in the day before their accompanying test date.

      Makeup Policy:

 We will follow the standard school makeup policy – one day for each excused day absent.

 If your first day absent is on a test/quiz day, you are expected to make it up the first day you are back on campus.

Absences: If absent, you are expected to do the following:

(1) Watch any lesson videos you miss on Google Classroom and do any accompanying worksheets that will also be on GC,

(2) Turn absent work when you return or you may email it to Mrs. Bixler

(3) Utilize homework help videos and email me if you’re having trouble getting something or understanding something. 

Dropped Grades:

At the end of each grading period, the lowest quiz grade and two homework grades will be dropped as long as there are NO missing assignments. Late homework will go into

the grade book as a 90. You may only have two 90’s, if you have more than two at the end of the grading period, the others will be turned back into a 1 but will count as 

“turned in” for dropped grades.

Optional Replacement Test at end of each grading period:

If the student has (1) no more than 3 tardies, (2) all absences have been cleared, and (3) ALL assignments have been turned in, they will have the option of taking a comprehensive quarterly replacement test that can replace one eligible lowest test grade.

      Group Quizzes:

There will be 1 group quiz per nine-weeks (at the most). I write many recommendations for college acceptance and summer programs. One of the main questions asked, especially by elite universities like MIT, is how well the student collaborates with others. I use this time to observe this quality. That being said, groups are typically randomly

chosen BUT, students that have missing homework will be grouped together or will quiz alone (if they are missing a lot). It is not fair to the group to have to slow down and 

explain to a member that has not been working.

      Tips for efficient HW time:

      (1)  Those of you who are very careful and neat, thus slow and subject to bouts of hw paralysis, will have to settle for less than perfect here 

             and there in order to get the job done without unnatural stress.

      (2) Those of you who are careless, thus fast, will have to slow down and show more work than you are used to showing on your assignments. You must effectively communicate           your process as well as your product. Method and correct notation are important parts of this class and the AP exam. BE WARNED: Copying does not equal collaboration.

           You may learn in groups, but you will take assessments on your own!

      (3)  An important resource is your fellow student. University research indicates that math students who worked regularly with a 

            study group performed at a significantly higher level.